TIP writes to KPT about PPRA rules’ ‘violation’

ISLAMABAD: Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has pinpointed the ‘alleged’ breach of PPRA rules by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) for the establishment of LPG plant and storage facility within the notified limits of the port.

This has been disclosed by the Transparency International, Pakistan in its letter dispatched on October 22, 20224 to Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi, Chairman, Karachi Port Trust. The same letter has also been sent to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (PSPM), Federal Minister for Port and Shipping, PPRA DG and Registrar of Supreme Court, Islamabad. In the letter available with The News, TI Pakistan reported violations of PPRA in the process of awarding contract for the LPG plant and storage facility by KPT, mentioned in a complaint it received. It says that on October 9, 2024, KPT published Request for Proposal (RFP) for the establishment of LPG plant and storage facility, closing date October 25, 2024 with response time of 15 days only, which is a breach of PPRA rules. “The RFP requires interested parties to submit proposals on turn-key project basis, while KPT has failed to publish pre-qualification documents, in violation of PPRA rules 2004,” the TIP said, terming the “failure” an attempt to award the contract to a pre-selected bidder through skewed competition.

This scribe sent a question to the KPT chairman and called him on his phone, but he didn’t respond as it was told that he was currently in China on an official visit, but sources close to him told, “Yes, KPT has received the letter of Transparency International, Pakistan and the relevant authorities are examining the contents of TI letter and would respond accordingly.”