MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif is reportedly being deliberately misguided by the top brass of the Ministry on perks and privileges being abused by them, sources close to Secretary Water and Power told Business Recorder.

The sources said, to power sector officials are not only misusing official vehicles but also getting monetization. According to the government’s monetization policy, those officials who receive monetization in lieu of official vehicles, are bound to use their own cars, but all the top officials of the Ministry of Water and Power are using official cars and also receiving monetization in accordance with their grade.

Caretaker Minister for Water and Power, Dr Musadak Malik (now Prime Minister’s Special Advisor) has publicly stated that a mafia exists in the Ministry and constantly referred to structured as opposed to structural problems of the power sector.

The Ministry of Water and Power has recovered more than three dozen vehicles in use by officials illegally. No action has been taken against officials with close ties to the Additional Secretary.