The Lahore High Court on Friday directed Director General Anti-Corruption to hold an inquiry into alleged scam of Rs 7 billion and sought report about the budget and expenditures of Punjab 'SAAF PANI' Company by 28 September. The court observed that the nation wanted to know that Rs 7 billion fixed for SAAF PANI Project were spent where?
The petitioner Sania Kanwal stated that billions of rupees from the national exchequer were being spent on foreign tours of the company's officials. She alleged that the officials were purchasing expensive cars from the money allocated for provision of pure and clean water to public.
The Company's Chief Executive and other officials also appeared before the court and said that a report regarding road shows and record about Dubai tours had already been submitted before the court. The court, however, rejected the report for being incomplete and sought detailed report on budget and expenditures of the company.
The CEO told the court that his salary was Rs 1.4 million and he had also served as DG LDA. "Was there no expert who could be consulted for the project of the company?" the court asked the CEO. "Bullet proof vehicles could have been taken from the government on temporary basis rather than buying them on permanent basis. The court denied the request when CEO pleaded to allow him exception from appearance before the court on the next hearing and observed such excuses are not acceptable. "You have to appear before the court on every date of hearing," the court held.