Major Corruption Scandal Uncovered in Naseerabad: Rs40 Million Embezzled Through Fake Dam Project, Two Officials Arrested

**Quetta:** A major corruption scandal involving the misuse of development funds has been uncovered in Naseerabad district as the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Balochistan arrested two officials for allegedly embezzling millions of rupees through a fictitious development scheme.

According to officials, the action was taken on the directives of the Director General, Anti-Corruption Establishment Balochistan, under the supervision of the Deputy Director (Investigation) Naseerabad. The investigation revealed large-scale embezzlement in a so-called development project involving a protection embankment and four water ponds in village Shabbir Bhangar, Dera Murad Jamali.

Investigators found that no physical work was carried out on the ground, yet payments amounting to approximately Rs40 million were released to a contractor, causing a huge loss to the public exchequer. Preliminary findings suggest that the project existed only on paper and funds were misappropriated through fraudulent documentation.

Following the investigation, former Deputy Director Muhammad Saeed Khoso and former Sub-Engineer Ali Mardan of the On-Farm Water Management Department were arrested. The accused will be produced before the court after completion of legal formalities, while further investigations are underway to identify and proceed against other individuals involved in the scam.

The project was intended to develop water conservation and storage infrastructure in a rural area, but instead, officials allegedly diverted the funds for personal gain. The Anti-Corruption team exposed the scandal after a detailed review of land records and consultations with local farmers.

The incident highlights serious flaws in the monitoring and oversight mechanisms of government development projects and underscores the need for stricter accountability to ensure effective use of public funds.