Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the controversial Rs. 60 billion Port Qasim land deal, following allegations that the land was allotted at a significantly undervalued price. Senator Faisal Vawda, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs, had raised concerns over the deal, prompting the government to launch a formal inquiry.
Composition of the Inquiry Committee
According to an official notification from the Prime Minister’s Office, the high-level committee will be chaired by Brigadier (Retd) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha, the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission. The other two members include the Director of the Intelligence Bureau and the Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Syed Shahid Hassan.
Scope of the Investigation
The committee has been assigned multiple key tasks, including:
- Examining the Port Qasim Authority’s (PQA) legal strategy regarding the prolonged 12-year stay orders that prevented the lease cancellation.
- Assessing the justification for an out-of-court settlement and whether it was made in the best interest of the government.
- Investigating whether a land revaluation was conducted before finalizing the deal to determine if the price was fair.
- Reviewing why the settlement was not withdrawn when the litigant initially refused to accept it.
- Identifying any governance failures or procedural lapses that may have contributed to unnecessary delays and potential financial losses to the state.
The committee has been directed to submit its findings within two weeks, after which the Prime Minister will review the report and decide on further action. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs will provide secretarial support to ensure smooth coordination throughout the investigation.
Background of the Allegations
Senator Faisal Vawda had earlier highlighted serious concerns regarding the alleged illegal allotment of 500 acres of land at Port Qasim. He claimed that despite the land’s market value exceeding Rs. 60 billion, it was leased at a much lower price, raising suspicions of financial irregularities and corruption.
Previously, the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs, under Vawda’s leadership, had issued directives to freeze all leased land at the port until a thorough investigation could be conducted. The committee had also requested detailed records from the PQA to understand how the lease agreements were processed and whether due diligence was followed.
Implications and Next Steps
This investigation is expected to shed light on potential governance shortcomings and any involvement of officials or external parties in undervaluing state-owned assets. If irregularities are confirmed, legal action may be taken against those responsible, and corrective measures could be introduced to prevent similar issues in the future.
The outcome of this inquiry will be crucial in determining whether the Port Qasim land deal was executed lawfully or if it involved malpractices that led to a significant financial loss for the government.
