Senator Faisal Vawda, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Maritime, dropped a bombshell on March 4, 2025, exposing a Rs60 billion Port Qasim scam tied to “criminal negligence” by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaisar Sheikh.
On Geo News’ Capital Talk with Hamid Mir, Vawda unveiled documentary proof, alleging a shady land deal was scrapped within 72 hours of his push, yet not before sparking outrage.
Vawda claimed the scam saw land worth millions sold for Rs800,000 to Rs1 million per acre. “I demanded answers, but they canceled it in 72 hours and dodged me,” he fumed, noting a feeble denial in obscure newspapers. He holds evidence elusive to the FIA, Anti-Corruption Department, and NAB for five years showing 14,000 acres dwindled to 135 since 2018 under dubious deals masked as foreign investments. “They said the foreigners fled when confronted,” he scoffed.
سینیٹر فیصل واؤڈا نے پوسٹ قاسم اتھارٹی میں کرپشن کی دستاویزات مجھے دکھا کرکہا یہ پڑی ہے آپکی جمہوریت آپ ہی کو شوق تھا اس جمہوریت کا جس میں چند خاندانوں نے سیاست پر اجارہ داری قائم کر رکھی ہے واؤڈا صاحب سے گذارش ہے پاکستان میں فئیر اینڈ فری الیکشن کرائیں پھر جمہوریت کو طعنہ ماریں pic.twitter.com/CxBMFSFc24
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) March 4, 2025Vawda blamed Sheikh and the Port Qasim Board, accusing them of bypassing cabinet norms since 2018 under Ali Zaidi’s watch. “Sheikh calls it done in July 2024, but it’s negligence,” he charged, slamming the entire government as complicit. “I’m sending all proof to PM Shehbaz Sharif—let’s see who acts.” The committee’s probe revealed a 500-acre sale for a 2% advance, a fraction of its Rs60 billion value, reversed only after Vawda’s intervention.
Sheikh countered on the show, crediting Vawda for saving the treasury Rs60 billion. “The board’s independent—it acted, not me,” he insisted, tracing the mess to a 2005 deal where a party paid just 2% for 1,500 acres. “When payment stalled, they sued—we tried settling this year, but Vawda flagged the Rs7.7 million blunder. It’s with NAB now.” He admitted the board’s call was flawed but reversed it post-scrutiny.
The Port Qasim scam exposes systemic rot, and Vawda’s evidence shakes Pakistan’s maritime sector.
