KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to award the contract as per the rules, for the ‘improvement and lining’ of Kalri Baghar Feeder, an important component of the ‘K-4’ project to supply water to Karachi.
Sealed bids including detailed company profiles have been invited from international and local companies for the Rs27 billion work of lining and cementing the Kali Baghar feeder.
Earlier, in the last month (December 2023) the same contract which was going to be awarded in violation of the rules was cancelled, as it was divided into nine parts to keep the international companies away from the contract process and give it to the favoured companies.
After the irregularities were revealed in the contract of the same work, the Chief Minister of Sindh, Chairman SPPRA, and Secretary Irrigation took notice of the matter and cancelled the announced contract process, and departmental action was initiated against the then project director.
The Sindh government sources informed ‘The News’ that following the Sindh High Court directions the project director for the said project would be appointed from the open market after adopting a competitive hiring process. The chairman of the Sindh Planning and Development (P&D) Department is the head of the hiring committee while three officers nominated by the federal government are the members of the same committee.
Sources added that some fourteen technocrats and professionals have applied for the position, and out of them some have been shortlisted.
As per official papers the contract for the paving of the Kalri Baghar Feeder, an important part of the ‘K-4’ project to supply water to Karachi, will be completed in 36 months and after the formal publication of the tender on January 29, and then sealed bids will be received by March 20 and the successful contractor company will be announced on the same day.
The contract work of the Rs27 billion project was divided into 9 parts of Rs3 billion given keeping international firms out of the contract process and possible action by NAB; while the project was announced by the chief engineer instead of the project director in violation of SPPRA Rules and disregarding the principles of transparency and fundamentals.
The Sindh government has cancelled the same contract due to the 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 process fairly and transparently, strictly adhering to rules and procedures.
The contract for the improvement and lining of the Kalri Baghar Feeder and Keenjhar Lake was earlier initiated without the necessary permission from the ECP, and it violated the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) Laws by converting it 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 then project director.
Parents informed the police about the kidnapping of their son and subsequent demands of ransom money by the kidnappers
Rains, which started in plain areas late Saturday night, continued throughout the day
Police claimed to have arrested four accused, including Akram, Zaka Abid, Khalid and Amjad
Diplomatic sources say that the two countries have appointed liaison officers for counter-terrorism on the...
World Bank reports that the government of Pakistan is no longer able to undertake social welfare projects
