Report: Only the maintenance of the lavish residences of Punjab govt officials cost 10 billion a year
Govt officials are living an abundant and bountiful living on the money of tax payers.
(WebDesk/RoznamaDunya/DunyaNews) - With more than 19 thousand servants, lavish and extravagant government residences spread over the land on 8975 kanals worth more than 403 billion rupees and with residential and camp office’s repair and renovations cost hundreds of millions after every two years from discretionary developmental funds - higher government officials are living an abundant and bountiful living on the money of tax payers of Pakistan in Punjab only.
Luxurious abodes of higher government officials
According to Dunya investigations, over a land of 8975 kanals worth more than 403 billions, opulent official residences and bungalows are constructed.
As per the details garnered, the higher government officials are residing over the luxurious residences spread over the land of 10 to 104 kanals. These residences repair and renovation annually cost approximately 10.5 billion. On an average, a 5 to 25 kanal official residence renovation and repair cost 5 to 15 lacs a year. In addition, another 2 to 5 lacs are usually spent over the transformations of different sorts after every two year which are not included in the annual budget rather being used through discretionary developmental funds or allocated funds.
Most of the residences have servants range in between 10 to 52. Around 19, 278 servants are serving at the official residences in Punjab who are being paid around 5.12 billion rupees as salaries and allowances.
The govt officials residences in Lahore
Official residences on 5206 kanals are constructed for the government officials. Some of these residences have value in crores. GOR One spreads over 1600 kanals which costs 168 billion. More than 1400 kanals have the constructions of official residences where the higher officials of government are living a luxurious life of British era.
Speaker, deputy speaker, chief secretary IG Punjab, commissioner, secretaries and all higher officials are given the residences here. These residences repair cost 550 million a year and 822 millions are separately allocated as fix charges against these lavish residences for gas, electricity and water bills. Each government official salary ranges in between 10 to 55 lacs monthly.
GOR2 spread over the land of 1312 kanals and cost 52 billion whereas GOR3 is of 208 kanals and has a value of 38 billion.
Who has been allotted how lavish residence?
Chief Secretary has been allotted a residence of 22 kanals, IG Punjab 25 kanals, Comissioner Lahore 20 kanals and other secretaries and higher officials have been allotted residences over 05, 10, 15, and 20 kanals. Provincial Ministers are given residences of 12 to 15 kanals. Former DG LDA, DIG and other officials have given the residences spread over 6 kanals. Speaker and Deputy Speaker are living in a residence of 10 kanals each. In total, 171 official residences are there in the specific area.
An army of servants in the official residences of government higher officials
At the residence of Chief Secretary, a total of 33 government servants are performing their duties. Alone on CS, a huge sum of 5.2 million monthly is being spent.
The 25 kanal residence of IG Punajb has 26 servants and costs monthly 6 million approximately. In addition, 17 police constables and few drivers have also been bestowed on him for security and others.
Every provincial minister living in GOR1 is enjoying a luxury of 10 to 13 government servants which cost 2.3 million monthly.
Commissioner Lahore House has 13 servants that cost 3.7 million; deputy commissioner is given 35 to 40 servants whereas secretaries and other higher officials on an average cost 2.2 to 4 million a month. The salary of government servants employed at the residences of higher officials, range between 20 to 45 thousands a month.
The Camp Offices expenses
In their lavish residences, Chief Secretaries, IGs, Commissioners and deputy commissioners have set up their camp offices as well. The expenses of these camp offices are usually either being paid by the relevant departments or by the department of welfare.
The govt officials residences in other districts of Punjab
Commissioner Sargodha has given a residence of 104 kanals with 37 servants. SSP Sahiwal is residing over the land of 98 kanals, Deputy Comissioner on 95 kanal, Deputy commissioner Faislabad on 92 kanals, Deputy Comissioner Pak Patan on 64 kanals, DIG Gujranwala on 70, DIG Multan on 18, DIG Sargodha on 40, DIG Rawalpindi and Faislabad on 20, 20 each, DIG Lahore 15, SSP Mianwali 70, SSp Rajan Pur 37, SSP Sheikhupura and Bahawalnagar 32, 32 each, SSP Attock 29, SSp Gujranwala 25, SSp RahimyarKhan 22, SSp Qasoor and Vihari 20, 20 each, and many SSP of other districts are given the posh abode of 05 to 15 kanals.
Where from such hefty expenses are being paid?
According to an official of Finance Department, some shocking revelations were also made. He claimed that the expenses of the government residences are being made through three different accounts to avoid the expose of such hefty payments regarding the expenses of official residences. He added that the expenses are increased up to five percent in last five years. Sources said few of the allotments made against the merit by the former Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.
Additional Secretary I&C Sheikh Muneeb while speaking with Daily Dunya, said that further information is being dug regarding the official residences and their expenses. Final report has not been prepared yet. According to the officials of Finance departments, a separate budget usually is allocated for the official residences in addition with other expenses in this regard. On the other hand, the state officer of welfare wing of civil secretariat elaborated that a fund of hundreds of millions are allocated for the official residences expenses and if required extra funds are also released on demand.
Read in Urdu Roznama Dunya
Translated and Edited by Mehreen Fatima
