Port Qasim Land Scandal has triggered a high-level inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The decision comes after Senator Faisal Vawda accused government officials of leasing prime Port Qasim Authority (PQA) land at extremely low prices. He claims this happened during the current government’s tenure, raising concerns about corruption and mismanagement.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the disputed land was meant for a small and medium-sized industrial park. However, the leasing process raised suspicions of financial misconduct.
The inquiry committee includes the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission as convener. Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Sirajuddin Amjad and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Syed Shahid Hussain also joined as members. Together, they will investigate PQA’s decision-making, especially the attempt to cancel the controversial lease. They will also examine efforts to overturn the stay order that blocked the lease cancellation.
The panel plans to evaluate why the PQA Board agreed to an out-of-court settlement. They will check if the board reassessed the land’s value before finalizing any settlement. The investigation will also focus on whether they considered current market rates.
The committee will explore why officials didn’t withdraw the settlement offer after the claimant rejected it. It will identify any governance failures that delayed a resolution.
If necessary, the panel can bring in additional members to support the investigation. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs will handle secretarial duties. The committee must submit its report within two weeks.
Senator Faisal Vawda, who chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs, recently exposed what he called a Rs60 billion Port Qasim land scandal. He accused Maritime Affairs Minister Qaisar Sheikh of “criminal negligence” and criticized him for ignoring warnings. According to Vawda, the deal was rushed through in less than 72 hours despite his objections.
“They dismissed my concerns and canceled the agreement within three days,” Vawda stated at a press conference. He also questioned the transparency of publishing an official denial in obscure newspapers. According to his claims, officials leased land worth millions per acre for just Rs800,000 to Rs1 million per acre.
The Port Qasim land scandal has sparked widespread debate about government accountability and transparency. Many stakeholders now wait for the inquiry findings, hoping they will uncover the truth behind this high-stakes controversy.