Rs60 Billion Corruption Scandal Uncovered: Senator Vawda Blames Maritime Minister for Negligence

By DTD- On Mar 5, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Senator Faisal Vawda, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Maritime, has exposed a massive corruption scandal worth Rs60 billion, accusing a federal minister of criminal negligence in a land deal. Appearing at a private news channel program,” Vawda revealed documentary evidence of the land scam, implicating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaisar Sheikh, in the matter.

Vawda revealed that a land deal valued at Rs60 billion was abruptly cancelled within 72 hours. “I asked for one thing, but they did not respond and went ahead to scrap the deal in just 72 hours,” Vawda said. He also revealed that during this period, a denial was published in certain newspapers and millions of rupees worth of land was sold for only Rs800,000 to Rs1 million per acre.

The senator accused federal agencies, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Anti-Corruption Department, and National Accountability Bureau (NAB), of failing to gather critical evidence over the past five years, which he now holds. Vawda also pointed out that foreign investors were used as a cover for the scandal and alleged that 14,000 acres of land had been reduced to only 135 acres. He further claimed that the shipping minister, Qaisar Sheikh, was directly involved in the corruption.

The issue dates back to 2018 when the Maritime Ministry, under the leadership of Ali Zaidi, bypassed the cabinet and initiated an unlawful sale of the land. Vawda indicated that the entire government was complicit, adding that the shipping ministry was responsible for illegal appointments.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been urged to take action, with Vawda promising to submit all evidence before him. The senator emphasized that the entire system benefited from the corruption and expressed dissatisfaction with the slow response to his calls for accountability.

On the other hand, Minister Qaisar Sheikh responded to the allegations by claiming that it was Vawda’s actions that saved the country from a loss of Rs60 billion. Sheikh maintained that the Port Qasim Board made independent decisions, and actions were taken within the legal framework. He clarified that the land deal, involving a 2% payment and a subsequent dispute, was an attempt to settle the matter out of court.

Vawda’s revelations come after the Senate Committee on Maritime’s swift intervention led to the cancellation of the controversial sale of 500 acres of land at Port Qasim, which was originally valued at Rs60 billion. The deal, which had been executed under dubious circumstances, had been reversed due to Vawda’s committee’s efforts.

The committee expressed concern over the price at which the land was sold and questioned the role of the Port Qasim Board in the transaction. Vawda criticized the deal as unjustifiable, stressing that such actions cannot be defended, even by military boards or chief justices.

The committee also reviewed the current situation at Port Qasim, where only a fraction of the land remains in use, and recommended immediate freezing of payments for land acquisition deals at major ports until further investigations are completed.

The investigation continues as the government faces mounting pressure to take decisive action against those involved in this massive land scam.