K-IV component project scrapped over irregularities

KARACHI: The Sindh government has cancelled the contract for the improvement and lining of the Kalri Baghar Feeder and Keenjhar Lake, an important component of the K-IV water supply project to Karachi. The cancellation comes in the light of alleged violations, serious irregularities, and suspected nepotism in awarding contracts for the project.

On December 26, 2023, the Sindh government cancelled the contracts of the project, and initiated action against the project director who was also an engineer of the Sindh irrigation department, after uncovering illegal and irregular activities. On the same day, the Chief Engineer of, the Sindh Irrigation Department was directed to restart the bidding fairly and transparently, strictly adhering to rules and procedures. What makes the whole selection of the project director more questionable is that the officer was achieving superannuation by the end of the current year.

According to official documents, the contract for the improvement and lining of the Kalri Baghar Feeder and Keenjhar Lake was initiated without the necessary permission from the Election Commission, and its contracts were allegedly doled out in violation of the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) Laws. Furthermore, the project was unlawfully divided into nine parts, contrary to SPPRA rules section 12.

Taking strict notice of these irregularities, Secretary Irrigation Niaz Abbasi, Law Minister Omar Soomro (also the Chairman of SPPRA), and caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (r) Maqbool Baqar initiated departmental action against the project director who was also issued a show cause notice accusing him of misuse of authority, breaking laws, and disobeying government orders. The official documents also indicate that the project was announced by the Chief Engineer instead of the Project Director, which was yet another violation of SPPRA rules and transparency rules.

Sources within the Sindh government suggested that the Rs 27 billion project was deliberately fragmented into nine parts of Rs 3 billion each to exclude international and reputable companies from the contract and potentially avoid scrutiny from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Interestingly the project director was appointed shortly before his retirement, violating the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) orders. The SHC had explicitly directed the government not to appoint any officer from the Sindh Irrigation Department as the project director, emphasising selection through advertisements. Despite the project’s 36-month timeline, the appointed project director’s tenure was of a mere one month as he was retiring on December 27, 2023.

While officially confirming the cancellation of the contracts, the Sindh government also announced the appointment of Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, a senior engineer of the irrigation department as the project director who would restart the project of lining the Kalri Baghar Feeder and the Keenjhar Lake.

Sindh Law Minister Omar Soomro, also the Chairman of SPPRA, while talking to The News, confirmed the decision, highlighting that the cancellation saved the public treasury from significant losses. He underscored the caretaker government’s commitment to preventing wrongdoing and illegal activities during its tenure.