PAC Orders Full Disclosure of Bureaucrats Owning Properties in Portugal
ISLAMABAD – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has taken strong notice of alarming reports that high-ranking bureaucrats have purchased properties in Portugal. The committee has directed the Establishment Division and the Interior Ministry to compile and submit a complete list of such officers.
Chaired by Junaid Akbar, the PAC session addressed several pressing matters, including the alleged misuse of public resources, staff deployments during the Hajj season, and the widespread closure of Utility Stores across the country.
During the meeting, PAC members voiced deep concern over claims that senior government officials had acquired expensive overseas properties, allegedly financed through unlawfully obtained wealth. The committee stressed the need for full transparency and strict accountability, urging immediate submission of all relevant records.
This action comes in the wake of explosive allegations made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on August 6. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Asif accused a significant number of Pakistan’s bureaucrats of corruption, claiming that more than half of them had bought real estate in Portugal and were preparing to secure foreign citizenship. According to him, these individuals intended to enjoy lavish retirements abroad, safe from local accountability mechanisms.
The minister also alleged that a prominent bureaucrat, reportedly close to former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, had received a staggering Rs. 4 billion in “salami”—a traditional wedding gift—during his daughter’s marriage, before quietly retiring from service. These revelations have sparked public outrage and intensified calls for tighter financial scrutiny of public officials.
Apart from the Portugal property scandal, the PAC discussed concerns regarding the deployment of staff to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season, questioning both the efficiency and fairness of the process. Committee members emphasized that resources must be used transparently and effectively.
The meeting also highlighted growing dissatisfaction over the closure of Utility Stores nationwide, which has deprived many citizens of access to affordable essential goods. The PAC demanded swift government action to restore these facilities and address the economic challenges faced by the public.
With the spotlight now firmly on Pakistan’s bureaucratic elite, the PAC’s demand for disclosure marks a crucial step towards greater transparency, anti-corruption reforms, and public accountability.
