Investigative Report: Rana Tassaduq Hussain
A horrific scandal of embezzlement of $47 million in Pakistan’s national highways funds has come to light that has shaken the foundations of the National Highway Authority (NHA). This financial explosion is not just corruption, but also clear evidence of the bureaucratic mafia’s blatant cronyism, illegal appointments, and gross violation of parliamentary and court orders.
While the government is calling the NHA a “loss-making institution”, the real story is of a well-planned looting of its resources, where bureaucratic crocodiles are devouring funds allocated for the development of highways.
The story of the looted $47 million, the terrible game of NHA funds
For fifteen years, the legally earned revenue of NHA—including toll tax, fines, and other highway revenues—has been ruthlessly looted and illegally transferred to unrelated government agencies.
Some of the worst examples of corruption:
- The Ministry of Finance illegally with held $47 million, which has destroyed the financial autonomy of NHA, and is giving a false impression of its deficit.
- The revelation of the transfer of NHA funds to other unrelated agencies has severely affected the development of road infrastructure in the country.
- The illegal sharing of 50% of highway fines with the Motorway Police, even though this revenue belongs entirely to NHA, is under audit objections and parliamentary laws.
- A fake scheme to transfer NHA money to Motorway Police in the name of “Matching Grant”, even though it is a separate department and has its separate budget.
- NADRA’s capture of toll revenue of the Lahore-Islamabad (M-2) Motorway, where millions of rupees were illegally embezzled, while NHA is facing a financial crisis.
- Massive corruption in land acquisition for Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6), where Matli district administration embezzled funds, but there was no accountability.
- NHA’s luxury properties are illegally in the possession of various government agencies, while NHA itself is desperate for funds.
Rule of bureaucratic mafia: NHA has been turned into a personal fiefdom!
Another shocking aspect in this story of corruption is the illegal appointments of bureaucratic mafia to top positions in NHA. More than 120 officers, who were declared incompetent in their original departments, were transferred to the NHA, due to which the original hardworking and capable officers were deprived of promotion.
Some of the worst illegal appointments:
- Tariq (Pakistan Railways) – Illegal appointment as a member of Special Measures, while he is involved in corruption and train accident cases.
- Mansoor Azam (PAAS, BPS-20) – Appointment to a post that does not exist at all.
- Syed Mazhar Shah (FBR, BPS-19) – Made Member Finance, NHA, even though there were four senior finance officers in the NHA. His only “qualification” is that he is the brother-in-law of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ahad Cheema!
- Miss Seerat Habib Malik (FBR, BPS-18) – Illegally grabbed two big posts: Director Personnel (BPS-19) and General Manager Admin (BPS-20), even though he has no experience in NHA administration.
- Tariq Bhatti (IRS, BPS-19) – Illegal appointment to the post of GM Right of Way.
- Muhammad Shakeel (FBR) and Iftikhar Mehboob (PAAS) have been sitting in NHA illegally for more than nine years on their salary and perks.
These appointments are a clear violation of the decisions of the Islamabad High Court, ESTA Code, and the orders of the Supreme Court. All these illegal actions are in clear violation of the following laws and court decisions:
ESTA Code, which limits the deputation of any bureaucrat to a maximum of five years. The decision of the Islamabad High Court (W.P. No. 1841/2011) prevents officers posted on deputation in NHA from being appointed to promotional posts. The financial autonomy granted to NHA by the Parliament which has been trampled upon by the bureaucratic mafia.
Will NAB, FIA, and IMF catch these criminals?
This is not a simple mismanagement, but a systematic financial attack on Pakistan’s infrastructure.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other financial institutions are keeping a close eye on Pakistan’s economy. In such a situation, the government may have to answer the following questions:
Who made these illegal financial deals?
Why is NHA’s revenue going to other institutions instead of being used for road development?
Who is responsible for violating the decisions of the Supreme Court and the High Court?
A contempt of court petition has already been filed in the Islamabad High Court by NHA employees against the Establishment Secretary, Communications Secretary, and other guilty officers.The real question is whether the Auditor General of Pakistan, NAB, FIA, and other accountability institutions will take action against this mega scandal? Or will this $47 million highway robbery also become another unsolved crime in Pakistan’s future?
