#OrderTypes101 The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a corruption case against former NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik, alleging financial irregularities amounting to $25 million.
The case, registered on the Interior Ministry's directive, also names former Chief Project Director Gohar Ahmed Khan and 11 other senior NADRA officials. The action follows a Transparency International report that uncovered serious lapses in the procurement process.
According to the FIA, the accused are suspected of violating Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules, accepting kickbacks and commissions, and inflicting substantial financial losses on the national exchequer.
FIA sources revealed that several high-ranking NADRA officials, including the Chief Project Officer, face charges of corruption, abuse of power, and criminal breach of trust.
A key allegation involves the procurement of smart ID cards at grossly inflated prices. While the market rate stood at just 3 cents per card, NADRA is said to have purchased them for 99 cents each. In 2020, the per-card cost was 68 cents, which inexplicably rose to 99 cents by 2022.