Even Among Disaster, Corruption Ensues in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD—Immediately following the October 8th earthquake in Northern Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, the government of Pakistan created the President’s Earthquake Relief Fund. As the money is distributed to affectees, the National Accountability Board (NAB) has discovered a 50 percent corruption rate in at least one district.

“The highest standards of transparency and accountability would be maintained,” Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf promised last November. The fund was set up to provide relief to earthquake victims and to mobilize resources for relief efforts.

U.S. organizations and Pakistani expatriates donated over $6.2 million to the fund through the Pakistan Embassy in Washington D.C. Despite the skepticism of some who have experience with the corruption Pakistani governments, most Pakistanis felt confident in donating to the fund.

It’s hard to blame them. The Pakistani Army was on the ground and helping facilitate relief efforts immediately, and their presence was recognized by both the U.S. government and international non-governmental organizations. Ethnic tensions were erased as students and workers from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad rushed to the affected areas to provide relief. In a rare scene, the country’s citizens and government seemed to be working harmoniously to help the 3 million plus victims.

10 months have passed since the earthquake, and the money is being used to assist affectees in building earthquake-resistant homes. An initial 25,000 rupees ($417) check is issued per family to begin rebuilding, and upon inspection more money is to follow to complete the work.

The system has already been criticized for its shortcomings. Those who are not approved for the second round of money are left homeless. In addition, the cost of material goods has surged, partly because of keen businessmen who recognize that demand exceeds supply and partly because of the international NGO presence. The money, therefore, may not be enough to rebuild homes.

Now, according to Pakistan’s The News, the NAB has reported that 50 percent of the checks issued in the Oghi district of Mansehra are fake. Oghi is one small area of the region affected.

The corruption can be traced to the elected representatives, revenue department officers and military personnel who have been issuing checks. Ahmad Shahryar, the son of the district nazim has been issued 8 checks, and 31 total checks were issued to members of his family. The officers involved have been pocketing a portion of the compensation.

Doctors have also been linked with the corruption in the area; they have issued fake certificates of injuries to allow patients to collect the government money.

The NAB is continuing its investigation in Oghi and plans to do similar probes in other areas. However, they will likely avoid badly hit areas, such as Balakot, so as not to agitate and add to the woes of those affectees.

While the corruption causes valid alarm, donors to the Pakistan Relief Fund can find some comfort in the NAB’s efforts to investigate the problem. One must wait to see how the government will prevent further abuse of the relief funds.