Anti-Corruption Watchdog Probes Rs17.5 Million Monthly Irregularities at Suthra Punjab Agency in Faisalabad

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has launched a formal inquiry into alleged financial irregularities at the Suthra Punjab Agency in Faisalabad, where suspected misuse of fuel and vehicle rental expenses is estimated at nearly Rs17.5 million per month, according to media reports.

Investigators are examining claims that the agency declared a fleet of 800 sanitation vehicles to the Punjab government, even though only around 550 were reportedly operating in the field. The declared fleet was said to be consuming roughly Rs15.6 million per month in fuel, and when rental charges for an additional 200 vehicles were factored in, the suspected irregularities climbed to about Rs17.5 million per month.

Reports further allege that employees at a gas station, along with other individuals, used multiple fake registration plates on a single vehicle to draw fuel under different vehicle numbers. The vehicle was then allegedly taken to a workshop near the gas station on Rajbah Road, where the fuel was drained.

ACE officials are also looking into allegations that vehicle tracking devices were deliberately damaged and that CCTV cameras at the gas station were switched off to conceal the suspected activity. As part of the inquiry, investigators have collected video recordings, documents and mobile phones from some employees.

Local anti-corruption officials said they are reviewing the evidence and financial records to determine the scale of the alleged irregularities and to establish responsibility. Any legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

The case adds to growing scrutiny of public service spending in Punjab, particularly in programmes that rely on large vehicle fleets and outsourced logistics. Suthra Punjab, a provincial sanitation initiative, has faced questions in the past over operational costs, making the outcome of this inquiry closely watched by taxpayers and policymakers alike.