Islamabad:
The Senate Maritime Affairs 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, chaired by Senator Faisal Vawda, then ordered the cancellation of the sale.
Later, Vawda expressed his gratitude for rapid action taken by the committee, stating: “If we had not intervened and exposed corruption, the country would have lost RS60 billion. Our collective action said that the fraudulent sale was canceled within 72 hours of our recommendations.”
According to a press release, the Committee deepened in the sale of 500 acres of land in Port Qasim, which was sold for a single 2 percent advance, for a value of its real value, estimated at RS60 billion.
The senator questioned the legitimacy of the transaction, stating: “only 2 percent 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 in this matter.
However, Vawda raised doubts, questioning why the land was sold for only 10 percent of its real value and why the Board did not take action before. “Who authorized the Board of Port Qasim to sell land worth RS60 billion for only RS5 billion? This goes beyond its reach and authority,” he said.
In his comments, the senator described three options to deal with such cases of poor management and corruption, “surrender, admit corruption or fight against it.” He emphasized the importance of holding those responsible for financial loss for the country.
Senator Danish Kumar expressed concerns about the lack of a permanent president in the ports of Karachi and Gwadar, emphasizing the need for stable leadership in the maritime sector.
