Ideal Village Project closed in Punjab, Maryam Nawaz orders investigation into corruption

Maryam Nawaz had sought report on corruption complaints regarding Ideal Village project

Lahore: Ideal Village Project has been closed in Punjab while Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered investigation into corruption in project.

According to government sources, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif immediately closed Ideal Village Project and ordered investigation into corruption.

Under project, development work was to be done in 800 villages of Punjab at cost of Rs 40 billion. In initial phase, 400 villages were included, for which more than Rs 4 billion was released and development work was started in villages of Sargodha Division.

According to government sources, in Sargodha, fake companies were registered on partnership basis through influential officers and political nexus, while Rs 3.5 billion was also released in lieu of development works.

According to sources, Chief Minister Punjab had sought report on corruption complaints regarding Ideal Village project in Punjab Assembly, in which it was told that more than 60 percent of works of project in Sargodha Division did not happen at site at all, however their amount was paid.

After receiving report, Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered Anti-Corruption Punjab to investigate matter of making fake companies and corruption. According to sources, after consultation, Chief Minister has also issued instructions to immediately close Ideal Village Project.