ACE Registers Case Over Yellow Line BRT Financial Irregularities

ACE Registers Case Over Yellow Line BRT Financial Irregularities

The Anti-Corruption Establishment has registered a case over alleged financial irregularities in the Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit project, naming senior project officials in connection with the suspected mismanagement of billions of rupees in public funds.

According to official documents, the case has been filed against former Project Director Zameer Abbasi and former Procurement Director Jhuman Das.

The allegations relate to the construction of the Jam Sadiq Bridge and two depot facilities developed under the Yellow Line BRT scheme. Investigators say serious violations occurred during the procurement and payment process.

According to the case record, contractors were paid approximately Rs. 8.5 billion without obtaining mandatory bank guarantees. The absence of these guarantees allegedly exposed the public exchequer to unsecured financial risk, with potential losses estimated at Rs. 1.25 billion.

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ACE officials said the case was registered following the findings of an inquiry committee, which identified evidence of financial mismanagement, procedural violations and failure to safeguard government funds.

“The inquiry revealed that payments were released in violation of established financial and procurement rules,” an official familiar with the investigation said, according to the report.

The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code as well as applicable anti-corruption laws. Further investigations are under way to determine the extent of losses and identify any additional individuals involved.

The Yellow Line BRT project is part of Karachi’s mass transit infrastructure aimed at improving urban mobility. However, repeated concerns over cost overruns, delays and governance issues have drawn scrutiny from oversight bodies.

ACE officials said accountability in large-scale public infrastructure projects remains a priority, adding that legal action will proceed in line with evidence gathered during the investigation.

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