ISLAMABAD: Senior politician Nadeem Afzal Chan has accused the Punjab Communication and Works (C&W) Department of receiving an 18 percent commission in ongoing road development projects across the province.
In a post on social media platform X, Chan urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to pay attention to the matter, alleging that those overseeing the projects were demanding commissions from contractors. He called for strict accountability and an end to the practice to ensure transparency in public spending.
“You are doing a good job focusing on road projects, but it is essential to eliminate the 18 percent commission culture in the department,” Chan wrote. He further warned against what he termed “blackmail tactics” and suggested the removal of incompetent officials within the department to restore public trust.
The remarks came in response to a post by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighting the completion of the Muzaffargarh Shah Jamal Road project, a 33-kilometer road built at a cost of Rs708 million under the “Khushhal Punjab” initiative.
It is worth mentioning here that the Punjab Minister for Communication and Works, Sohaib Ahmed Bharath, is the arch-rival and electoral opponent of Nadeem Afzal Chan in Sargodha.
While the Punjab government has been showcasing its infrastructure uplift projects as a sign of development, Chan’s allegations have raised concerns about transparency and governance within provincial departments.
Officials from the Punjab C&W Department have not yet responded to the allegations.
