BAHAWALPUR: Bahawalpur Commissioner Nadir Chattha has issued orders for action under Peeda Act against two officers of the building division on charge of their involvement in corruption.

Action was taken against building circle Superintendent Engineer Anwar Adil and Executive Engineer Sheikh Ejaz Ahmed of building division of Bahawalpur.

The commissioner told Dawn Sub-Engineer Waseem Sadiq was already removed from service under the Peeda Act. He was placed under suspension vide order dated Dec 28, 2023, by the secretary communication & works (C&W)) on account of inefficiency and misconduct and was directed to report to his department. After an inquiry, the secretary imposed a minor penalty with the result that Waseem was reinstated on May 21, 2024.

After his reinstatement, he was allowed to work in buildings sub-division No 1 without any posting orders by the competent authority while an FIR was also pending with the Anti-Corruption Establishment Police Station against him and other officers/officials of his department.

After his joining, Waseem was assigned a number of construction works by the EXEN, including issuance of vouchers of construction work worth millions of rupees without any legal authority.

The commissioner said that after receipt of official records, it transpired that Waseem had paid millions to the contractors against a number of projects in connivance with EXEN Sheikh Ejaz.

The commissioner said action of SE Anwar Adil, EXEN Ejaz, SDO Mukhtar Ahmed and Waseem was tantamount to misconduct and corruption that’s why action was initiated against them.

DRIVE: MNA Malik Iqbal Channar, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar and Bahawalpur Deputy Commissioner Dr Farhan Farooque inaugurated the anti-polio campaign by administering polio drops to the children at district health authority (DHA) office and Bahawalpur and Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH). The polio drive would continue till Dec 18.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024