ISLAMABAD: The former minister of Ports and Shipping and former chairman Karachi Port Trust are reportedly found to be misusing luxury vehicles bought particularly for foreign consultants working on different ministry projects.
A well-placed source in the ministry has informed that despite leaving the charge of the ministry last year a former minister for Ports and Shipping is still using the official luxury vehicle specially imported for foreign consultants and engineers.
Following the example set by the former minister, the former chairman KPT Javed Hanif Khan has also kept two luxury vehicles i.e. Vego Double Cabin and Toyota Corolla Car with him.
Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael confirmed the usage of vehicles by the former minister and KPT chairman.
The contract of Reconstruction of Berths Project was awarded to a Korean company M/s Sangyong in June 2012 while a British Company M/s WS Atkins was appointed as consultant for top and site supervision.
According to the terms of contract, nine vehicles were purchased for this Korean contractor and provided to consultant engineers. However, due to unauthorised usage of the said six vehicles, KPT has purchased four more vehicles, including two luxurious vehicles (Toyota Crown- 3000cc and Toyota Prado), purchased against the government rules and policy of austerity.
The former minister obtained a Land Cruiser worth approximately Rs 18.5 million of the KPT project Reconstruction of Births in August 2012, he received a sum of Rs 450,000 for the registration of the vehicle but did not register it while the vehicle in his custody is bearing a fake number plate BF-470.
Similarly former chairman Javed Hanif, who left the KPT in September 2013, is still using two luxury vehicles of the trust i.e. Toyota Vego Double Cabin GP-5533 and a Toyota Corolla Car GP-5530. Javed Hanif is currently holding the charge of secretary of provincial local government department also obtaining Rs 200,000 per month in the head of petrol and maintenance of these two illegally occupied vehicles.
When contacted, Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael confirmed that six vehicles of projects are being used by the former minister, chairman and himself. However, citing the reason of using these vehicles for his personal usage, Kamran Michael said he has security threats and keeping in view the incident of Shahbaz Bhatti it is necessary to maintain his security.
When asked whether the Interior Ministry has not provided him any security, the minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already given approval for provision of a bullet proof vehicle to him but the ministry has replied that they could not provide him the vehicle due to shortage of vehicles.
“If something happened to me then it would be an international issue as previously the incident of Shahbaz Bhatti was highlighted by the international media,” he said.
About misuse of vehicles by the former minister and chairman, the minister said he has issued directive to the concerned authorities for taking back these vehicles while the amount paid to them in terms of POL and maintenance would also be taken back.
When contacted, former chairman Javed Hanif said he had only one vehicle. He said being the former chairman he was entitled to one vehicle which he has kept with him.
When asked he is still serving with the government then how could he be entitled to the vehicle despite getting a vehicle from his current department, Javed Hanif said being a chairman he deserved it.
About the maintenance and POL charges, the former chairman denied getting a single penny in this regard.