From Abid Usman
LAHORE: A whopping Rs25 billion have been recovered in fourteen months, Punjab Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Syed Yawar Abbas Bokhari revealed on Tuesday. He said the amount was recovered from government functionaries as well as contractors and subsequently deposited in the provincial exchequer. A number of higher officials and firms were found to be involved in corrupt practices.
The PAC chairman said the committee would have recovered embezzled funds to the tune of Rs40 billion had PAC meetings were not postponed due to the pandemic. He pointed out the amount was retrieved from government officials and contractors. He said the individuals and companies found to be involved in corrupt practices have been blacklisted permanently. Prime Minister Imran Khan has also been informed of the PAC’s accomplishment.
Earlier Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said recoveries to the tune of over Rs 206 billion have been made in the province during the last 27 months in an anti-corruption drive. This was said by Buzdar while addressing a joint press conference along with Advisor to PM on Accountability Shahzad Akbar at his office. Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat and Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed were also present. The CM said the PTI government has reformed the Anti-corruption Establishment and added that the looters will not be pardoned. The government took action against the powerful mafia which snatched away public resources and kept people deprived of even the basic resources during the last 30 years.
