Billions of rupees in financial irregularities have been reported in the Communications and Works Ministry during the tenure of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s son, Maulana Asad Mahmood.
According to an audit report, irregularities have surfaced in the Burhan-Hakla-DI Khan Motorway project, which falls under the period when Asad Mahmood served as Minister for Communications and Works.
The report highlighted a loss of Rs55 billion in Package-I of the DI Khan Motorway after work was awarded before land acquisition had been completed. It also revealed that contracts worth Rs12.4 billion were awarded for the Burhan-Hakla-DI Khan Motorway without an approved PC-I.
Irregularities were also reported in toll tax revenues collected on the M-14 Burhan-Hakla-DI Khan Motorway. The report identified an additional loss of Rs1 billion through inflated rates and the inclusion of extra items in the Burhan-Hakla-M-1 to DI Khan project.
An Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) worth Rs3.83 billion was installed and made functional on the Burhan-Hakla-M-1 to DI Khan Motorway, according to the report.
The Auditor General’s report further stated that recoveries amounting to Rs700 million from the Burhan-Hakla project could not be made. It also identified alleged irregular payments of Rs650 million to firms involved in the Burhan-Hakla-M-1 to DI Khan Motorway project.
Asad Mahmood visited the construction work on the Hakla-DI Khan Motorway in July 2022 while serving as Minister for Communications. He held the position from April 2022 to August 2023.
Also Read: Rs222 Billion in Audit Irregularities Flagged in Communications Ministry During sad Mahmood’s Tenure
