Billion Tree Tsunami: NAB detects over Rs462m loss in initial inquiry

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has detected a loss of over Rs462 million to the public exchequer in its initial inquiry into Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s flagship Billion Tree Tsunami Project, reported The News.

"The NAB regional office has recommended to the headquarters for upgrading the inquiry along with authorisation for separate investigations and six inquiries to unearth the mega scam in KP," according to the report.

On March 26, 2019, NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal had authorised the inquiry against the Billion Tree Tsunami Project. 

An officer told The News that they [NAB officials] had checked only 10 to 20 per cent of only one region out of three regions. This is the smallest region compared to Hazara and Swat regions. NAB sources confirmed that the matter is under scrutiny as per law.

In 2014, the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa government during its first tenure had started the Billion Tree Tsunami Project with Rs 14.32 billion utilised for the project execution by the forest department.

According to NAB sources, 24 different complaints were received by the Peshawar bureau regarding ghost payments, nepotism and favouritism in selection of nurseries. Overlapping of plantation of the other project was also pointed out by complainants. Some of the complaints were regarding payments made for plants different from the actually purchased ones.

Allegations of ghost labour, misappropriation and embezzlement of daily wages, enclosures failure and payments against ghost plantations were also received.

According to official documents available with the publication, during the initial inquiry based on proceedings conducted so far a loss of Rs462 million has been detected. The NAB reports further disclosed that due to the shortfall in the hectare-wise plantation area in Dera Ismail Khan a loss of Rs80.044 million has been detected.

Embezzlement of plants in farm forestry/free distribution in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa worth of Rs359.01 million has been found during the inquiry. Furthermore, embezzlements on account of sowing/dibbling of seeds and salaries paid to nighebans (caretakers) of enclosures in Dera Ismail Khan amount to Rs10.62 million.

Embezzlement of Rs2.5 million was found in 411,000 plants received from other divisions in Bannu. A watchtower was constructed in Dera Ismail Khan without any PC 1 resulting in irregularities of Rs10 million.

The regional NAB office has recommended the headquarters to convert the ongoing inquiry into a proper investigation to probe the case. It further recommended four investigations against the Divisional Forest Officer and others regarding misuse of authority, embezzlement, corruption and corrupt practices and execution of BTAP against Divisional Forest Officer of Dera Ismail Khan along with region 1, 2, 3 i.e. Hazara and Swat.

Furthermore, six additional inquiries were also recommended against the officers and officials of the KP forest department and others regarding embezzlement, misappropriation, corruption, and corrupt practices in procurement of seeds, polythene bags, machinery, vehicles and office equipment in forest region 1, 2,3.

It was further recommended that three inquiries may be approved against all three regional officers and officials of the forest department regarding corruption and corrupt practices in plantation and enclosures of the province.

Originally published in The News