NAB Opens Probe into KP’s World Bank-Funded Education Project

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has launched an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the World Bank-funded Human Capital Investment Project (HCIP) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

According to documents, NAB has begun investigating the project director, procurement specialist, a World Bank consultant and other officials. The bureau has also demanded complete records from the education and planning and development departments.

The move follows complaints of corruption and mismanagement raised earlier this year by a project official in a letter to the education secretary. While the department restricted action to paperwork, NAB stepped in to probe further.

A meeting regarding the inquiry was held on July 29 at NAB KP’s office, attended by officials from both departments as well as the HCIP director.

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Initially approved at Rs32 billion, the project faced sluggish progress for three years due to what sources termed negligence by senior officials. The World Bank later reduced its share by Rs6bn, revising the cost to Rs26bn.

The HCIP management, however, has claimed notable achievements in the past year, citing classroom construction, school upgrades and other targets. Officials said they had fully cooperated with NAB, provided a detailed briefing, and shared documents, while urging the bureau to act against those levelling “baseless allegations”.