SSIC alleged to have misappropriated Rs eight million

The officials of Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC) have allegedly misappropriated at least Rs 8 million meant for the development of the Small Industrial Estate (SIE) at Naushehro Feroz districts, it is reliably learnt. Interestingly, the scheme had already been cancelled by the Sindh government in 2005 due to unavailability of land for the said plan, well-placed sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday.
They revealed that the said scheme was launched in 2003-4 but with a total estimated cost of Rs 15.526 million to promote small industries in the district, adding that an amount of Rs 7 million was also transferred to the District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) Naushehro Feroz for the purchase of 50 acres of land.
After failure of the DCO regarding purchase of suitable land, the industries and commerce department had cancelled the scheme while the funds still remained with the district authorities. The remaining funds of at least Rs 7.526 were lying in the accounts of SSIC, they added.
Sources said that former Managing Director of the SSIC Mushtaque Ali Leghari had misappropriated such a huge amount by showing funds' utilisation on SIE (Extension), Hyderabad without seeking formal permission from competent authority, ie, provincial industries and commerce department.
However, no development work was carried out from the funds at Hyderabad small industrial area, they said. The senior authorities were unaware of the misappropriation of funds and thinking that the funds of about Rs 8 million were kept with the SSIC's accounts, they said.
They added that authorities were shocked when the former MD of the Corporation had submitted a monthly report of development in June 2008-9, which showed utilisation of at least Rs 23 million against the approved funds of Rs 15 million. Moreover, acting smartly, the SSIC has recently forwarded a proposal to the Planning and Development department insisting it to include the scheme once again in the upcoming Annual Development Plan (ADP) 2010-11 with the allocation of funds, the sources informed.