Over Rs206bn recovered in anti-corruption drive: Punjab CM
The chief minister said the government is following the policy of zero-tolerance against corruption
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said that recoveries to the tune of over Rs206 billion have been made in the province during the last 27 months in the anti-corruption drive.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Advisor to PM on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar at his office on Thursday, the CM said the PTI government has reformed the Anti-Corruption Establishment department and added the looters will not be pardoned. The government took action against the powerful mafia which snatched away public resources and kept the people deprived of even the basic resources during the last 30 years, he stressed.
While giving the necessary details, the CM stated that the anti-corruption campaign has proved fruitful and the big fish have been brought under the net of the law. Some critics doubted the dawn of change in the province but they must realize that Punjab is transformed for a better tomorrow.
Usman Buzdar said ACE received 51050 complaints; it conducted 11488 inquiries while registering 3185 cases and arresting 3904 criminals. The 27 months recovery was 532 per cent higher than the last ten years, he added. Recoveries amounting to Rs43 crore were made in ten years but recoveries amount rose to well over 2.30 billion in the last 27 months. State lands recovery ratio in 27 months remained 6172 per cent higher than the last 10 years.
State lands worth Rs2.6 billion were recovered during the last ten years but in a period of 27 months, government lands worth more than Rs181 billion have been recovered and all the money was deposited in government kitty. Similarly, the CM added the ratio of retrieval of state land in the PTI government is 6172 per cent more when compared with ten years. During the last ten years, state land worth 2.6 billion was retrieved while the PTI government has recovered state lands worth more than Rs181 billion in 27 months.
The chief minister said the government is following the policy of zero-tolerance against corruption and action has been initiated against gubernatorial cabal which remained active in loot and plunder of resources in the past, he said. Explaining the reasons for fewer recoveries in the past, he maintained the powerful people continued to occupy important posts. They kept the institutions under their influence and also occupied the national resources, he added. The resources are the sacred trust of the people and the government is retrieving this trust back from the corrupt to return to the people. The recovered resources will be utilized for the public welfare and this is also a manifesto of the PTI government, he added.
CM Buzdar stated that people will be the direct beneficiary of this anti-corruption campaign and the resources will be utilized on different public welfare schemes. I am also thankful to those who took part in this campaign. It is a national mission which will be moving forward with passion and commitment. This anti-corruption campaign will be continued in Punjab with more zeal and vigour, he added.
Replying to the media, the CM emphasized that the Corona situation is monitored while maintaining best coordination with the federal government. The decisions will be made according to the situation. To another question, he said the staff shortage will be overcome in ACE and recruitments will
