Punjab’s flagship cleanliness project has landed in controversy after anti-corruption officials arrested a senior operations manager over alleged ghost workers, fake billing, and manipulated waste management records.
WebDesk – MediaBites News
LAHORE: Punjab’s ambitious “Suthra Punjab” cleanliness initiative has been rocked by a major corruption scandal after anti-corruption authorities reportedly arrested Operations Manager Abdullah Bajwa over allegations of financial irregularities exceeding Rs1 billion.
According to sources, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) registered a case against Bajwa and several associates following a high-level inquiry into alleged fraud, fake billing, and manipulation of operational records linked to the waste management project.
Investigators claim officials falsely claimed the deployment of 2,317 waste containers across various areas, when only 1,717 containers were physically present on the ground, allegedly causing heavy losses to the national exchequer.
The FIR further alleges that salaries and operational payments were fraudulently withdrawn using records of 633 “ghost sanitary workers.” Authorities say fake attendance and door-to-door cleaning activity reports were prepared to justify payments from government funds.
The inquiry also uncovered alleged overbilling in waste enclosure operations. According to the FIR, only 33 waste enclosures were functioning, rather than the claimed 118, exposing alleged fake billing for an additional 85 units.
Investigators further alleged that payments were released for three temporary garbage collection points that were never actually established.
Officials also accused the suspects of manipulating the procurement values of tractors, loaders, front loaders, and tractor trolleys by underreporting their base values, allegedly causing substantial financial losses to the government.
According to the inquiry’s findings, tracker data from garbage-collection vehicles was also allegedly manipulated to conceal operational discrepancies.
The investigation was conducted by a high-level anti-corruption team that included the Regional Director Anti-Corruption, Deputy Director Admin Headquarters Nisar Ahmed, Deputy Director Vigilance Zawar Manzoor, Assistant Director Admin Muhammad Ahmed, and Assistant Director Vigilance Zaigham Khalil.
Authorities say further arrests and investigations are expected as the probe into the alleged mega corruption scandal continues.
