Major Corruption Scandal Exposed in Balochistan Forest Department; Contractor Arrested, Conservator on the Run

Quetta: A major corruption scandal has been uncovered in the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department, where alleged irregularities worth Rs260 million (26 crore) have surfaced in multiple development projects during the financial year 2024–25.
According to details, the Anti-Corruption Department Balochistan has registered a case against the Conservator Forests and a contractor over alleged embezzlement in various development schemes. Contractor Mehtab Alam has been arrested, while raids are underway to apprehend Conservator Forests Maqbool Hassan Dashti.
Director General Anti-Corruption Balochistan Naseebullah Kakar stated that investigations revealed massive irregularities in several projects, including mangrove research centers, plantation drives, land leveling, nursery development, mangrove plantations, and rest house construction.
He said that many projects, which were originally assigned to the Communication and Works (C&W) Department, were allegedly executed unlawfully by the Forest and Wildlife Department itself and shown as completed on paper. In several cases, work was either substandard, incomplete, or not carried out on the ground, while large amounts were released as advance payments and subsequently misappropriated.
Authorities confirmed that an FIR has been registered, and further investigations are ongoing to trace additional involvement in the case.