The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is reportedly all set to take action against the officials of National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) for their alleged involvement in irregularities in olive promotion project and is awaiting a go-ahead signal from the director general of the Agency, well-informed sources told Business Recorder .
However, the alleged prime accused, the project director, who allegedly sabotaged the project in connivance with director general NARC, has yet to be charge-sheeted, the sources added. "The inquiry is complete and as we get a go-ahead signal from the DG, action will be started against the culprits," the sources continued. Unconfirmed reports suggest that one of the key accused had set the olive promotion project's record on fire in the night after getting suspension orders. The accused freely visits NARC and PARC offices to alter the record of the project.
A parliamentary panel has expressed anger over transfer of a few officers/officials of olive promotion project following massive irregularities in the project found by the Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee and recommended to take uniform action against all officers/officials of the project. The committee recommended ministry of national food security & research (MNFS&R) to detach all officers/officials from olive project and conduct a transparent inquiry and take stern action against the officers/officials found involved in the scam.
One of the top officials informed the parliamentary penal: "I am the most hated person in PARC. It took three months to remove one accused Saqib Salim Mirza from his position despite the fact that "fake" signed letterheads were found from his table's drawer."
The owner of RSS Agri & Allied Services, a company which was awarded a contract of 0.4 million olive plants under PIDSA project, told the parliamentary panel when the company of Cheema did not get the contract, he was furious and used all tactics to create hurdles for them.
According to the panel, it is a mega scam and if lawful payment is not made to RSS, the matter may land in NAB. It was revealed that PARC has received extension letter of PIDSA project on May 17, 2016. PARC management is waiting for the approval of the sub-committee. Another scandal of NARC has also been unearthed according to which a group's fraudulent official received Rs 13.3 million for a machine for the project but purchased just a frame of the machine at just $840.
According to insiders, the fraud was committed by one of the junior officials who had no experience of such procurements. Budget allocation for the project machine was Rs 9 million but it was procured at a higher rate. Similar machine is said to be available in Gujranwala at Rs 0.3 million.
Documents reveal that sanction of chairman PARC was conveyed on account of procurement of research equipment & machinery (mechanised nursery establishment (pot filling) and material mixture machine for ALP-project, ABEI, NARC. The suppliers' worth is not more than Rs 0.1 million, then how he paid the amount, the sources asked, claiming that the amount was arranged by the project in-charge. The firm which managed the tender is unregistered and has no experience to run such types of machines.
The sources said that no feasibility was prepared to estimate the commercial viability of the project. Official documents with Business Recorder reveal that as the payment vouchers were made ready, DDO and audit officer approved after which a cheque was prepared with two signatures and dispatched through courier. The entire process was done in one day.