April 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1429

KHANEWAL, April 22: The district government allegedly awarded funds to Citizen Community Boards (CCBs) for technically-flawed projects and plundered public money, Dawn reveals.

In various cases, CCBs drew funds against the projects with the connivance of district government officials who released funds to them without the approval of the district council.

Sources told Dawn the Iqra CCB from Noorpur mauza, Kabirwala tehsil, being run by Muhammad Asif, launched a home industry costing Rs500,000 in 2006. Asif is the relative of union council nazim Bismillah Irum. Sources said Ms Irum allegedly drew salary from the CCB by showing herself industrial teacher. When auditors raised the issue, Irum returned the sum to the CCB. Later, Ms Irum was elected the District Public Safety Commission member. Ms Irum, however, denied charges.

Another Roshan Dehat CCB launched a project to install a tube-well in the Katcha Khu and drew Rs362,440 from the government on June 6, 2006. The funds were released without the approval of the district council.

The matter of the Club CCB is very interesting. The CCB got approved two projects for constructing sports halls at Civil Club Khanewal and Rs2.12 million was released to the CCB on March 16, 2006, and March 31, 2006. The CCB, sources say, constructed sports halls but started restaurant at the sports halls instead of sports activities there.

Khanewal District Coordination Officer Qazi Ishfaq said he would take action against CCBs found misusing the funds.

“We are well-aware of such issues and will try to save public funds being misused in the wake of CCB projects,” he said. He said he would look into all CCB projects.