NAB Launches Probe into Two Foreign-Funded KP Mega Projects
PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has formally launched separate inquiries into alleged corruption and irregularities in two major development projects — the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project (KP RAP).
According to NAB sources, the decision was made after credible evidence and verified complaints surfaced regarding financial mismanagement, procedural violations, and suspected collusion between contractors and officials.
The Rs97 billion KPCIP, aimed at upgrading municipal infrastructure such as water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, and urban transport, is under scrutiny for contracts allegedly awarded without legal compliance. Reports suggest billions were released on the basis of manipulated progress reports, despite little physical development. The provincial Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has also taken notice, with KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati summoning officials for a briefing.
Meanwhile, the KP Rural Accessibility Project (KP RAP), intended to improve rural connectivity through new and rehabilitated road networks, faces allegations of overbilling, use of substandard materials, favoritism in contractor selection, and ghost projects. Investigations indicate instances of duplicate payments and weak monitoring mechanisms.
A KP government spokesperson welcomed NAB’s action, stating: “The provincial government believes in transparency and accountability. Anyone found involved in corruption will be held accountable.”
Both projects are jointly funded by international loans and provincial allocations and were initially promoted as transformative initiatives for KP’s urban and rural infrastructure. However, the inquiries have cast a shadow over their future progress.
