Muhammad Bakhsh Sangi Recommended as Acting Chairman Amid Evacuee Trust Property Board Turmoil

Muhammad Bakhsh Sangi Recommended as Acting Chairman Amid Evacuee Trust Property Board Turmoil 

 By Ali Imran Chattha | Lahore (Special Report) – The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has been mired in an administrative crisis for the past two years, with no permanent chairman and delays in board reconstitution halting key decisions on leasing prime properties and managing trust assets. Internal tensions among senior officials have deepened the governance paralysis. The tenure of former chairman Dr. Sajid Mehmood Chauhan ended yesterday. In a move to fill the leadership gap, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has recommended appointing Joint Secretary Muhammad Bakhsh Sangi as acting chairman. The proposal is now awaiting the approval of Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf. Investigations into multiple cases of financial irregularities—allegedly involving millions of rupees—remain slow due to poor departmental cooperation. Reports of corruption and negligence among field staff have further dented the board’s performance. Proposals prepared by Additional Secretary Shrines, Saifullah Khokhar, for completing development projects at several gurdwaras and temples have stalled amid internal mistrust and lack of coordination. New projects have been suspended, with focus shifted to unfinished works, jeopardizing revenue targets. Experts warn that without swift appointment of a permanent chairman, reconstitution of the board, and restoration of internal discipline, the ETPB risks losing credibility and the trust of minority communities. They stress that corruption probes must be fast-tracked and development initiatives revived to protect the institution’s transparency and reputation. “This is more than an administrative lapse—it is a direct threat to the protection of trust properties and minority rights,” experts caution.