A massive housing scam worth over Rs100 million has been exposed in Pakistan Railways, involving more than 200 illegally allotted residential quarters in Lahore and Mughalpura.
The Directorate General of Vigilance completed its inquiry and submitted the report to the Ministry of Railways. Criminal cases have been lodged against several employees suspected of involvement.
According to official sources, DIG (North) and DG Vigilance Abdul Rab Chaudhry launched the investigation after multiple complaints were received about forged allotment letters.
The inquiry found that officials from Lahore Division and Mughalpura Workshops, including former and current State Inspectors, Assistant Inspectors of Works (AIOWs), and staff from Railways Headquarters, allegedly received bribes in exchange for fake housing allotments. They reportedly forged documents, used fabricated signatures of senior officers, issued fake G-10 forms, and kept all transactions off the record.
A major development occurred when Adil Shehzad, a UDC (Upper Division Clerk) at Mughalpura Workshops, was arrested for fraud and forgery. He allegedly allotted a railway bungalow (No. 260-B, Signal Shop Colony) to himself using a forged letter signed falsely under the name of the XEN Headquarters. Investigators also discovered he rented out the servant quarters for personal gain.
To ensure a fair and thorough investigation, a joint team from Lahore and Mughalpura Railways Police, Vigilance Directorate, and Special Branch has been formed.
Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi praised the DG Vigilance for exposing the scam professionally and said this revelation had unmasked the corruption mafia involved in fake allotments and bribery.
