Pakistan’s government has set up a high-level committee to probe the alleged illegal allotment and sale of 500 acres of land at Port Qasim, a deep-water seaport in Karachi. The scandal has sparked sharp criticism from lawmakers.
According to a notification from the Prime Minister’s Office, the three-member inquiry committee will be led by Brigadier (retd) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission. Intelligence Bureau Director Sirajuddin Amjad and FIA Director Syed Shahid Hassan will serve as members.
The committee, formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and submit a report.
It will examine Port Qasim Authority’s (PQA) legal strategy regarding the cancellation of leases, which had been under stay orders for 12 years. The panel will assess why the PQA Board pursued an out-of-court settlement and whether legal opinions supported this decision.
The inquiry will also determine if PQA revalued the land before the settlement and whether current market prices were considered. Investigators will look into why the settlement offer was not immediately withdrawn when the litigant refused to accept it.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs will provide secretarial support and officially notify the committee.
Allegations of Corruption
The inquiry follows concerns raised by Senator Faisal Vawda, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs.
During a committee meeting on Tuesday, Vawda presented documents alleging that 500 acres of Port Qasim land, valued at over PKR 60 billion, were allotted at a significantly lower price.
“If the allotment was legal, why was its sale canceled within 72 hours?” Vawda questioned during the session.
Following the revelations, the committee decided to freeze all land leased by the ports and sought a detailed report from authorities.
Vawda accused officials of corruption, claiming that payment was made for 365 acres, but 500 acres were given instead. He further alleged that Port Qasim had 14,000 acres of land in 2018, but now only 35 acres remain.
The committee was also told that during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, former federal minister Ali Zaidi had the cabinet pass the “Ministerial Powers Act,” which granted him additional authority.
Vawda has demanded records of this act, vowing a thorough investigation.
“This is a mega scandal that must be investigated to the bottom,” he told reporters, adding that his intervention helped return PKR 60 billion to the national treasury.
The Senate committee has pledged strict action to ensure accountability and prevent further financial losses to the state.
