ISLAMABAD: Financial irregularities amounting to Rs18 million have been unearthed in the construction of a jogging track at Ankara Park, allegedly involving senior officials of the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Environment Wing, according to official documents and inquiry findings.
The contract for the project was awarded to a firm, M/s Turaab Construction, which reportedly failed to meet the eligibility criteria set out in the tender. Records show that the company was incorporated only a year before the tendering process in 2022, raising questions over procedural compliance and transparency in the award process.
Originally estimated at Rs10 million, the contract cost was later enhanced by 72 percent to Rs17 million, in apparent violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules. The inquiry further revealed that the work order was issued in December 2023 to M/s Turaab Constructions instead of M/s Turab Construction—the firm that had participated in the bidding. An agreement with M/s Turab Constructions was executed the same day the company was registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council, allegedly to enable the release of funds.
Sources disclosed that the owner of the firm is a relative of an official supervising the project, but despite this apparent conflict of interest, the scheme was approved and payments were processed through Bank Islami. Two payments of Rs3.94 million and Rs4.93 million were released without field verification or laboratory testing of materials.
The inquiry also noted that completion certificates were issued even though Google Earth imagery confirmed that the jogging track had been completed months earlier, by June 2023. Several CDA officials, including the DDG Environment-I, Director Parks, Deputy Director Landscape, DAO Parks, cashier, and audit staff, were identified in the findings.
Two cheques totaling Rs8.5 million were traced to the company’s account, causing a cumulative loss of Rs18.057 million to the national exchequer. Despite the inquiry report being finalized nearly ten months ago, no departmental or legal action has been taken so far.
When contacted, a CDA spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
