Court serves notice on contractor of IHC building complex

Islamabad
A committee formed to examine the award of contract for Islamabad High Court (IHC) building complex in sector G-5 here Thursday submitted its report before the IHC division bench while saying that the pre-qualification of the contractor Interhome to whom this building contract was awarded, was not transparent.
IHC division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamir Farooq then issued notices to Interhome and directed to respond the present situation through a counsel, as the court also wants to hear their version as well.
The same IHC bench by mutual consent of the parties had formed this committee comprising Nespak, officials of the ministry of housing & works and officials of the public procurement regulatory authority rules (PPRA) to determine transparency in awarding of contract.
The committee in its report said that the pre-qualification of the contractor was not done in accordance with PPRA rules. The committee also recommended action against the official who initiated bidding process of this project. The committee was formed after a private construction firm Gondal construction had alleged that the contract was awarded in an illegal manner. Gondal construction through their counsel Khizar Rasheed advocate had adopted that the contract was awarded by Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) in violation of PPRA rules
It is to mention here that new IHC complex project was conceived in September 2012 and it is yet to be completed. IHC bench would resume hearing in this matter on April 08.