Bashir Hussain Azad | Chitral Today
CHITRAL, Dec 14, 2025: Local leaders of various political parties on Sunday alleged that Chitral has become a den of corruption.
They said systematic corruption had permeated developmental works, particularly in the Communication and Works (C&W) Department and generally in other public sector works departments.
They warned that if the authorities failed to take notice of the blatant misuse of public funds and the open plundering of the national exchequer, the people of Chitral will be compelled to take extreme steps on their own.
Addressing a press conference at the Chitral Press Club on Sunday, senior political figures Haji Eidul Hussain, Wajihuddin, Advocate Muhammad Kausar, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, Qazi Naseem, Maulana Javed Hussain and others, in the presence of Trade Union Chitral Executive Committee Chief Executive and former interim president Din Muhammad Nadeem, alleged that officials in the C&W Department massively embezzled disaster funds.
They presented specific examples and alleged that officials approved blatant bogus billing of Rs1.7 million for works on Governor Cottage Road, Rs3 million for the claimed rehabilitation of Chew Bridge, Rs3.1 million for the restoration of Denin Gahatik Road, and Rs3 million for snow clearance on a two-kilometre stretch of the bypass road, terming these expenditures highly questionable and unjustified.
They alleged that a four-foot pit developed at one end of the historic Chew Bridge, which workers filled with merely four truckloads of soil, yet the department reportedly released a payment of Rs3 million to the contractor. They termed this expenditure completely illogical, unreasonable and a clear example of gross financial mismanagement.
They emphasized the need for the authorities to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into all payments made under disaster funds by the Tehsil Municipal Administration Chitral, Drosh, and all other public works departments, alleging that officials executed several ghost and substandard projects.
According to the speakers, departmental officers and contractors made excessive overpayments through collusion and mutual understanding.
The political leaders demanded that the government make public the details of all payments made for development schemes during the last five years to enable citizens to understand the true facts.
They warned that if the authorities failed to meet this demand, the political parties’ forum would itself obtain the relevant information and place it before the public.
When contacted for his stance, Executive Engineer C&W Division Lower Chitral, Mr Waseem, said the department processes every single penny paid for development, rehabilitation or repair works through a proper and regulated system. He added that the alleged matters related to a period before his tenure and said that he would comment only after reviewing the relevant files upon his return to Chitral.
Related:
Action Urged against corruption in mineral resources.
Contractors Reject Corruption Claims Over Emergency Road Repairs.