Abdul Hakeem Mohmand
PESHAWAR
Days after sacking of ad hoc information minister over alleged corruption charges, the anti-corruption watchdog, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), has unearthed another startling scam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming that the ruling provincial Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government during its previous tenure had caused Rs1.45b losses to the national kitty in a fraud related to free text books.
The NAB, KP chapter, has completed inquiry of embezzlements made in government text books, and recorded approximately Rs1.45b losses in KP and Rs0.31b in the merged tribal districts.
According to sources privy to Daily Lead Pakistan, the embezzlements were made in distribution of free text books for government schools in KP during the academic years 2012-16. Major losses were caused due to the overprinting of free text books than the required quota for distribution in the schools.
“Excess demand was made by district education officer (DEO) in Upper Dir through relevant provincial coordinator for the distribution of free books in government schools for the years 2012-16 to textbook board KP as compared to enrolled students strength and requirement,” sources informed.
During inquiry, it came to light that the alleged accused also attempted to sell surplus books in open markets in Upper Dir district as police have recently caught a vehicles loaded with the free books.
“The students record of upper Dir was requisitioned from Independent Monitoring Unit and analyzed from class KG to Grade 12. Hence, financial loss of Rs. 129.5 million was determined during the inquiry,” sources added.
