Khyber Approved Projects: Bara Demands Probe, Not Cuts

The fate of Khyber approved projects is now in dispute, as leaders from the district oppose their alleged cancellation in Bara tehsil and demand transparent investigations into any irregularities instead of scrapping the schemes.

Members of the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) from Khyber district and the president of the Bara Traders Association said the projects should be investigated and technical flaws corrected, rather than excluded from the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

Khyber approved projects must be probed, not cancelled

ARDC member Haji Sherin Afridi told The Express Tribune that he had made it clear on every relevant forum that the approved projects for Khyber district, especially Bara, must continue.

He said funds approved for Khyber must be spent in the district and not returned. Projects facing allegations of commissions, financial irregularities or favouritism towards preferred contractors should be investigated by the government, he said, adding that the relevant authorities had earlier assured that the projects would not be cancelled.

ARDC member from Bara tehsil, Izzatullah Hamkhayal, said the council had already clarified that approved projects for Khyber would not be cancelled. A council meeting is scheduled for the following day to discuss the matter further.

Syed Ayaz Wazir, president of the Bara Traders Association, described the reported cancellations as injustice and discrimination against war-affected tribal people. His words carry weight in Bara, where traders depend on public spending for roads, markets and basic services.

Nobody in the council defended the alleged irregularities. They asked for an inquiry, not a cover-up, and opposed cancelling schemes that would punish the public for faults in the tendering process.

The tenders behind the row

The dispute follows the cancellation of development tenders worth Rs8.92 billion covering 71 projects in Khyber district. Abb Takk reported, citing official sources, that the tenders were scrapped after allegations of political interference, favouritism and advance kickbacks.

According to those sources, the contracts were reportedly initiated during the tenure of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and allegedly distributed on political considerations, with kickbacks ranging between five and 10 per cent of the total contract amounts.

Complaints received by the authorities alleged that between Rs500 million and Rs900 million had been collected in kickbacks linked to the development schemes. Sources further claimed that projects worth about Rs5 billion under the ADP were allegedly associated with Naveed, a close associate of the chief minister, while schemes valued at Rs3.9 billion were reportedly linked to MPA Abdul Ghani.

An inquiry has been initiated into the alleged financial irregularities and the distribution of development contracts in the district, which is the chief minister’s home district. The sub-divisional officer of Bara, Ziaullah, was reportedly taken into custody for questioning, while the Communication and Works executive engineer, Riaz, was also questioned. Officials reviewed departmental records covering the previous two years.

The issue reportedly surfaced after an anonymous application was submitted to the secretary of the Communication and Works Department, raising objections to the selection and allocation of development projects in Khyber district. Following the complaint, the secretary issued an order on November 6 cancelling tenders worth Rs8.92 billion.

In a separate notification, the executive engineer of Highway Division Khyber announced the immediate cancellation of tender proceedings under various ADP schemes, to allow fresh examination and reassessment of the road projects.

These are allegations from unnamed sources, and no court has ruled on them. The inquiry will decide whether the claims hold up. Until then, the projects remain in limbo, and the district’s leaders want them saved.

Why the district is pushing back

Khyber is a merged tribal district, and its people have waited years for the development promised after the merger. Roads, water schemes and public buildings were meant to close the gap with the settled districts. Cancelling 71 projects at once, even over genuine concerns, leaves that gap in place.

The province’s finances are already stretched. K-P universities face a deficit of Rs5.6 billion, with 26 in crisis, and K-P municipal salary grants have had to be ring-fenced to protect staff pay. Losing Rs8.92 billion in approved tenders is a heavy blow for one district.

The row also has a political edge. The K-P governor has ruled out talks with anti-state elements, which shows the province’s politics remain tense, and a dispute over funds in the chief minister’s home district adds to it.

What happens next

The ARDC council meets on Friday to discuss the matter further. The inquiry into the tenders will also continue, and its findings will decide whether the contracts are re-issued, revised or dropped for good.

If the inquiry finds wrongdoing, those involved will face action and the tenders can be re-issued cleanly. If it finds the allegations baseless, the district will expect the projects to go ahead without delay.

Frequently asked questions

What is the row over development projects in Khyber about?

Leaders from Khyber district oppose the alleged cancellation of approved development projects, especially in Bara tehsil. They want any irregularities investigated and technical flaws corrected, rather than the schemes dropped from the Annual Development Programme.

How much were the cancelled tenders worth?

Development tenders worth Rs8.92 billion covering 71 projects in Khyber district were cancelled, according to reports citing official sources. The tenders were allegedly linked to kickbacks of five to 10 per cent.

Who is demanding the projects be saved?

Members of the Area Representative and Development Council from Khyber district, including Haji Sherin Afridi and Izzatullah Hamkhayal, and Bara Traders Association president Syed Ayaz Wazir.

What has happened in the inquiry so far?

An inquiry has been initiated. The sub-divisional officer of Bara was reportedly taken into custody for questioning, the Communication and Works executive engineer was questioned, and departmental records covering two years were reviewed.

When will the council discuss the matter again?

A council meeting is scheduled for the following day to discuss the matter further.