ISLAMABAD, August 27, 2026: Following the PIMS nursery fire incident, the newly appointed Health Secretary Captain (retd) Muhammad Mahmood has come under scrutiny over multiple corruption allegations and inquiries he faced during his career, ARY News reported citing sources.
According to sources, Muhammad Mahmood has previously been named in the Rawalpindi Ring Road, wheat import, IT and Nandipur scandals.
In May 2021, Muhammad Mahmood was arrested while serving as commissioner Rawalpindi in connection with the Ring Road scandal. He was acquitted in the case in 2022.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road inquiry had revealed large-scale irregularities and alleged manipulation. According to the inquiry, former commissioner Muhammad Mahmood had the Ring Road map illegally changed. He was also accused of illegally advertising bids in alleged collusion with consultants.
Muhammad Mahmood also emerged as a central figure in the wheat import scandal in 2023. At the time, he was serving at an important post as secretary food security.
Muhammad Mahmood had said there was no ban on wheat imports and that the decision was taken by the DPP on its own. He was suspended from the post of additional secretary at the Ministry of Food Security over the wheat scandal.
In August 2024, Muhammad Mahmood was also removed as IT secretary. He was accused of favouring LDI companies that had defaulted on Rs76 billion.
A policy issued by Muhammad Mahmood allegedly benefited the defaulting LDI operators by allowing them to pay their outstanding dues in instalments.
Irregularities were also reported in the Nandipur Power Plant project. Muhammad Mahmood was removed as managing director of the Nandipur Power Plant in November 2015 over the alleged irregularities.
