Islamabad, March 9, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate alleged financial irregularities in the leasing of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) land, following claims that the property was leased at undervalued rates.
The move comes after Senator Faisal Vawda raised concerns during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs, alleging that prime land meant for small and medium industrial parks was leased below market value during the current government’s tenure.
A notification from the Prime Minister’s Office confirms that a three-member committee will lead the probe, comprising Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (Convener), Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Sirajuddin Amjad and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Syed Shahid Hussain.
The committee has been tasked with investigating whether the PQA reassessed the land’s value before leasing it, determining if the decision was based on current market rates, examining why an out-of-court settlement with the petitioner was pursued and why it wasn’t withdrawn after rejection and identifying governance lapses that led to delays in the resolution process.
The committee has the authority to add more members if needed, and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will provide administrative support. A final report is to be submitted to the Prime Minister within two weeks.
This inquiry marks a significant step in addressing concerns over transparency and accountability in major land deals under the PQA.
