TAXILA: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has ordered probe into the alleged misappropriation of Rs2.5 billion funds as Attock District Council awarded contracts in violation of rules, work it executed was sub-standard and other administrative and financial anomalies.

According to directives issued by the Governor office, the Secretary Coordination Chief Minister Office has been directed to investigate the matter highlighted in a section of local press.

According to news reports, the caretaker government had released Rs2.5 million to the district council Attock for execution of different road projects in the district but it allegedly spent the allocated money on unnecessary projects in sheer violation of tendering and contract awarding rules of the provincial government.

The sources in the governor house said that the probe would be carried out by the Chief Minister Inspection team and if the involvement of embezzlement and misappropriation of national kitty proved, the case would be referred to the Punjab Anti-corruption Establishment for further legal action including registration of cases against the officials of the district council.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2024