ISLAMABAD: Senator Faisal Vawda has claimed to have presented evidence of corruption in the maritime sector.
Chairing a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs, Vawda praised Army Chief Asim Munir for setting an example by holding his institution accountable first.
He alleged that the Maritime Secretary was involved in covering up a Rs 60 billion misappropriation. “I have spent eight months compiling and studying evidence,” Vawda said, adding that he reviewed 728 pages related to the case.
According to Vawda, the Maritime Secretary canceled the process for a Rs 60 billion land transaction. “We successfully prevented this corruption. I am aware of the case’s history from 2005 to 2015 and how long it has remained unheard,” he stated.
Raising concerns, Vawda questioned, “If the deal was legitimate, why was the office opened on a Sunday to cancel the agreement?” He vowed to present solid evidence, asserting that he possessed documents the FIA had been unable to secure for years.
Vawda revealed that in September 2024, a decision was made to allocate 500 acres of Port Qasim land at Rs 1 million per acre. He further alleged that 365 acres were exchanged for 500 acres, with only 8 percent of the land actually allocated. “A defaulter company received undue concessions,” he claimed.
He also accused the company of deceit, stating it initially posed as a foreign entity but was later found to be local.
“There can be no out-of-court settlement with a fraudulent company. Why is the board favoring this entity?” Vawda questioned.
Earlier, Senator Faisal Vawda, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs, has alleged that a land scam worth Rs 50 to 60 billion was finalised during the current government’s tenure, with an agreement signed on July 9, 2024, over 500 acres of land.
The Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs convened for a meeting, chaired by Senator Vawda, with key officials including the Chairman of Port Qasim and the Acting Chairman of Karachi Port Trust also in attendance.
During the meeting, Senator Dinesh raised concerns about the absence of permanent chairmen for the Gwadar and Karachi ports, questioning why acting officials were running the operations. In response, Vawda highlighted the seriousness of the matter, stating, “We have three options: surrender, admit corruption, or fight.”
He further argued that if the issue of the Rs 50 billion theft had not been addressed promptly, the deal would not have been canceled within 72 hours. “If everything was proper, why was it canceled in just 72 hours? Together, we saved Pakistan’s Rs 60 billion,” Vawda added.
Vawda also accused Port Qasim of issuing misleading rebuttals through the media to obscure the facts and mislead the public. He stressed that the land deal, involving 500 acres, was signed under the current government, with payments planned for only 365 acres.
He claimed that a mere two percent advance was being paid for the land valued at Rs 60 billion.
The Secretary of Maritime Affairs suggested that the issue could have been a mistake, but Senator Dinesh quickly responded, stating that a privilege motion should be raised against the Secretary for misleading the committee.
Vawda strongly criticized the Secretary’s defense, calling the theft of Rs 50 to 60 billion “not a mistake” but a serious issue. The Additional Secretary admitted to being unaware of the matter but revealed that they were part of the board overseeing the deal. Vawda added, “I will remind the Additional Secretary of many things.” –Agencies
