LAHORE – Government officials of the public companies formed by Punjabgovernment were awarded heft salaries by the government.

The heads were given salary up to Rs2 million. Apart from salary,allowances up to Rs3 lakhs, house and vehicles were also awarded to theofficials.

CEO of National Thermal Power withdrew Rs2 million per month fromprovincial exchequer, CEO of Knowledge Park withdrew Rs1.4 mln, CEO ofClean Water Company North withdrew Rs1.3 mln, CEO of Clean Water CompanySouth withdrew Rs1.35 mln and CEO of Skill Development Company was hired atmammoth salary of Rs1.1 mln per month.

Likewise, Punjab Urban Development’s CEO withdrew Rs6 lakhs, CEO of PunjabInvestment and Trade Company withdrew Rs8 lakhs whereas CEO of Punjab ModelBazar withdrew as much as Rs6 lakhs.

On the other hand, Supreme Court (SC) has taken suo motu notice on payingheft salaries and allowances to the the officials of public limitedcompanies.

Mammoth irregularities worth over Rs80 bn in financial matters of 56companies formed by Punjab government were revealed earlier.

As per details garnered, Punjab govt had constituted 56 companies underguise of good governance and registered them under Article-42 of CompaniesOrdinance 1984. Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was inspired by theTurkish model and therefore summoned analysts from the same.

While deliberately turning a blind eye towards similar local companiesoperating in Pakistan, Sharif-led Punjab govt awarded dozens of contractsto Turkish conglomerates on hefty paybacks.

Before formation of these companies, 113970 employees were working indifferent departments across Punjab and the figure augmented to 157500following arrival of Turkish corporations.