LAHORE– The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has detained four Pakistan Railways (PR)’s senior serving and retired officials and one private company owner in Railways Signaling System Scam.
Arrested accused include Project Director Fahim Anwar Shah a (Grade-20) officer, former Chief Signal Engineer Atta Ullah (Grade-20), Ex-Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer, Dr Muhammad Saeed, Deputy Project Director Muhammad Ahmad (BS-18) and owner of M/s Equinox accused Contractor Moaz Mohi-ud-Din.
According to a NAB spokesman, NAB Lahore had been probing PR Singal System Scam for the last few months after a complaint filed regarding financial embezzlement and misappropriation of government funds to the tune of million of rupees in the said project.
It has been revealed that Pakistan Railway awarded four contracts for up-gradation / re-rehabilitation of Signaling Projects head.
First two agreements were for provision of new signaling system from Lahore to Karachi etc. In 2016, the above mentioned contracts amounting to Rs550 million were awarded to M/s Equinox for providing of signaling system and way side equipment for Bin Qasim Yard.
It is alleged the contract was malafidely awarded to said firm in sheer violation of rules and regulations as the said firm was registered in category (C-5) with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), while category (C-3) was required to get this project.
Moreover, bidding documents were prepared as per the suitability of M/s Equinox and the required experience was also waived off by the accused officers / officials.
Afterwards, M/s Equinox provided imported items worth Rs 380M out of total contract amount which was Rs 550 M.
It is pertinent to mention here that Customs record revealed that these imported items were purchased at a cost of only Rs97m, thus as a result the accused persons caused a loss of Rs 280m (approx) to the State ex-chequer.
During the course of further proceeding it is also expected that some more arrests may be made into the scam.
The NAB Lahore officials have arrested all accused involved after obtaining sufficient evidences of corruption and corrupt practices against the accused and the same will be presented before an Accountability Court, tomorrow, for want of Physical Remand so that the Inquiry Proceedings may remain continue.— PRESS RELEASE
