Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, September 23, 2024 – In a significant development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has made a historic recovery of PKR 168.5 billion related to the controversial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Peshawar. According to NAB’s official statement, this recovery will be allocated to public welfare projects.

NAB’s investigation into the BRT project revealed irregularities in the awarding of contracts. Six projects were found to have been awarded illegally to specific companies, which had violated agreements dating back to 2018. These companies were found guilty of acquiring nearly PKR 1 billion without delivering any work. In addition, fake guarantees had been submitted to the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), prompting further legal action.

In an important ruling from the International Court of Arbitration, a PKR 168.5 billion claim filed by contractors against the project was dismissed. NAB’s probe saved PKR 9 billion by ensuring the project’s completion at the original cost.

The contractors involved requested an out-of-court settlement with PDA, leading to a final agreement of PKR 2.6 billion. Following this, the Peshawar High Court closed all pending cases, saving a significant amount of public funds, which will now be redirected to benefit the community.

This recovery marks a major achievement in NAB’s 25-year history, highlighting its commitment to accountability and public welfare.