ISLAMABAD, May 20: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested two deputy general managers and three other officials of the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) in a corruption reference, a bureau official said on Friday. A contractor has also been arrested in the case involving alleged misappropriation of millions of rupees in water projects.

According to NAB Prosecutor General, those arrested are Deputy General Manager Irshad Ahmed, former deputy general manager Mr Sheikh, assistant executive engineers Sahib Dad, Pir Bux Solangi and engineer Hamzo Khan, and contractor Abdul Sattar Mandokhail.

NAB officials are also making efforts to arrest the absconding former general manager (engineering) of Port Qasim Authority.

The PC-I of Bulk Water Supply Scheme, comprising nine projects worth Rs390 million, was approved in February 1993.

One of the projects was 36” diameter pre-stressed reinforced concrete pipeline of 19-km length from Break Pressure Tank to PQA Eastern Zone.

After completion of tendering process and official formalities, the contract was awarded to accused Abdul Sattar Mandokhail on December 10, 1993 with the condition to complete the work within 12 months. The total cost of the project was Rs111 million.

The project was left incomplete, and despite Nespak’s objections to defective construction work and clear advice to the PQA for not releasing the payments to the contractor, some 16 running bills were paid.— APP