- The Federal Minister blamed criminal negligence.
- The land worth millions was sold at a low price.
- Vawda claims evidence of the FIA, NAB failed to collect.
The senator of the Senate Committee on the maritime president Faisal Vawda has unearthed a corruption scandal of RS60 billion, blaming a federal minister for “criminal negligence.”
Appearing in PakGazette News’ “Talk capital”, Vawda revealed the details of the Earth’s scam with documentary evidence. He also held the Minister of Maritime Affairs Qaisar Sheikh for negligence.
He said that within 72 hours, the land agreement worth RS60 billion was canceled. “I asked for one thing, but they did not answer me and moved on to discard the deal in 72 hours,” he said.
The senator said during this period, they also published a denial in some unknown newspapers. The land worth millions was sold for RS800,000 to RS1 million per acre.
He said that he had the documents that the FIA Federal Research Agency, the Department of Anti -Corruption and the National Responsibility Office could not collect in five years.
“They approached under the outfit of foreign investors. When they faced, they told us that foreigners had escaped. Since 2018, there were 14,000 acres, which have been left only 135 acres,” he said.
In 2018, Senator Vawda said that Ali Zaidi also approved the law while overcoming the cabinet. “Shipping Qaisar Sheikh Minister said that it was concluded in July 2024. There is also criminal negligence of the Qaisar Sheikh Shipping Minister,” he said.
Vawda said that the whole government is responsible. “There are also documents related to illegal appointments in the Maritime Ministry,” he said.
“If I have evidence of corruption, why don’t others have it? The whole system is their beneficiary. I am writing a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. I will do all the evidence before him.”
Government response
Meanwhile, Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Sheikh said in the same program that, due to Senator Vawda, the treasure was saved from a loss of 60 billion rupees.
“Measures will be taken against those responsible,” he said. The minister said the Board is independent and makes its own decisions. “The Board is not related to the ministry.
The problem dates back to 2005 when 1,500 acres were assigned. This party paid only 2%. When the issuance of the remaining amount was raised, they approached the Court, ”he said.
Sheikh said it was tried to resolve the matter outside the court this year. “He earned the money by applying the old price and taking interest in this regard,” he said.
The Federal Minister said that Vawda’s point is valid that the decision of RS7.7 million was made. “The file was sent to NAB in two months,” he said.
The minister said: “” When this decision came to light in the committee, I went to Port Qasim. It was not canceled one day ago, it was discussed first. The Board had made an offer, but the party did not make the payment. “
The minister said he could not attend the permanent committee meeting. “The decision was definitely made, when it was noted that this decision was incorrect, the Board withdrew the decision,” he said.
‘Evicios’
Before appearing in the program, the president of the Senate Committee on Marítimo expressed his gratitude for the rapid action taken by the committee to discover irregularities in the controversial sale of 500 acres of land in Port Qasim that leads to its cancellation, avoiding the nation of the loss of estimated RS60 billion estimated.
“If we had not intervened and exposed corruption, the country would have lost RS60 billion. Our collective action said the fraudulent sale would be canceled within 72 hours after our recommendations,” he said while presiding over the committee meeting.
The Committee reviewed critical issues related to the management of maritime assets, particularly the controversial sale of 500 acres of land in Port Qasim.
The committee deepened the sale of 500 acres of land in Port Qasim, which was sold for a single 2% advance, for a value of its real value, estimated at RS60 billion.
Vawda questioned the legitimacy of the transaction, saying: “only 2% was taken after selling land worth RS60 billion. If the transaction was legitimate, why was it invested within 72 hours?”
The land was originally assigned for industrial use in 2006, and the committee heard from officials that an extrajudicial agreement had been followed.
However, Senator Vawda raised doubts: “Who authorized Port Qasim Board to sell land worth RS60 billion for only RS5 billion? This goes beyond its reach and authority.”
The committee also questioned the role of the Port Qasim Board in the controversial sale of land. Port Qasim officials affirmed that the matter was properly handled and that the Board had acted within their rights.
Vawda said the land was sold at an extraordinarily low price, noting that a foreign company, which was not truly foreign but local and had a questionable history, was involved in the agreement.
In addition, he emphasized: “The actions of the Board cannot be defended. Even military boards, dictators or the main judges cannot leave with their own with such misdeeds.”
The Committee was also informed about the current state of Port Qasim land holdings. Port Qasim has approximately 14,000 acres of land, with 9,574 leased acres.
In addition, the authority bought 1,000 acres of land and expects possession of 1,250 acres of the Sindh government. Vawda requested the inclusion of technocrats and private sector entrepreneurs at the Port Management Board to guarantee efficiency and transparency.
In line with the findings of the meeting, Senator Vawda proposed several recommendations for immediate action, these included freezing pending payments in land acquisition agreements in Port Qasim, KPT, Gwadar Port and PNSC until more investigations are completed.
