Official Investigation Launched: Multan Municipal Corporation Probes Rs 3.5 Million Fraud Case

MULTAN: A massive financial fraud exceeding Rs 3.5 million has been unearthed within the Regulation Branch of the Multan Municipal Corporation, sparking alarm across the city. Investigations reveal that a municipal employee, Beldar Muhammad Bilal, allegedly misappropriated official challan books and issued counterfeit receipts, resulting in a significant scam.

The embezzlement came to light during a comprehensive audit of the corporation’s financial records and the probing of numerous public complaints. According to sources, the Superintendent of Regulation had received several reports accusing the ALS gang—allegedly led by Muhammad Bilal, with accomplices Muhammad Akmal and Abdul Rauf Gilani—of extorting fines from citizens through harassment. However, the amounts collected were never deposited into the government exchequer.

Further inquiries uncovered that this network operated at key public locations such as the historic Qila Kuhna Qasim Bagh, where they prepared forged receipts. These fake documents were reportedly approved with the involvement of higher-ranking officials within the corporation, adding to the gravity of the situation. Muhammad Bilal is believed to have played a central role in facilitating this fraudulent activity, exploiting official challan books to siphon off public funds.

The Municipal Corporation has since launched a full-scale investigation into the matter, with expectations that more individuals complicit in the fraud will be exposed. Authorities have assured the public that stern action will be taken under the PEEDA Act against all those found guilty, while an immediate audit of all enforcement books is being conducted to assess the extent of the financial loss.

This scandal casts a shadow over the transparency and accountability of the Municipal Corporation, raising serious concerns about internal oversight mechanisms. The incident has not only shaken public trust but also highlighted the urgent need for stringent anti-corruption measures within government departments to ensure such breaches of trust are swiftly addressed.