PESHAWAR — In a major administrative move following the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial Housing Department has decided to dismiss all work-charge employees of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Housing Authority (KPHA) after complaints surfaced regarding alleged irregularities in their recruitment and monthly salary payments.
Housing Adviser to the Advisory Council Asif Rafiq Afridi and newly appointed Housing Secretary Tahir Orakzai reportedly took immediate action on Monday, issuing directions to terminate the services of all work charge employees and ordering an inquiry into the matter.
According to complaints received regarding the authority, more than Rs100 million per month was allegedly being disbursed in salaries in the names of purportedly fake or irregularly appointed work charge employees.The allegations raised serious questions about the recruitment process, the authenticity of employment records and the authorization of public expenditure.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that neither the administration section nor the finance section of the KPHA could produce authentic documentary records concerning the recruitment and appointment of these employees, including appointment letters and approvals from the competent authority.The two sections were also reportedly unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the employees’ legal status and the documentation supporting their salaries.
The reported absence of verifiable records prompted the housing adviser and the newly appointed secretary to take immediate action, with a formal inquiry also planned to establish the facts, determine responsibility and examine whether public funds had been disbursed in violation of applicable rules and procedures.
The proposed inquiry is expected to examine the recruitment process, the availability and authenticity of appointment records, the approvals granted by competent authorities, and the financial implications of the alleged irregularities.Any findings of misconduct or misuse of public funds would require verification through the inquiry and relevant official records.
The development is being described by officials familiar with the administrative measures as one of the first major actions by a provincial department following the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The decision, if formally implemented, could have significant implications for accountability within the provincial administration, particularly regarding the verification of government employees, the transparency of recruitment procedures and the protection of public funds.
