Tendering process for flood-affected schools’ restoration was transparent: minister

Sindh’s Minister for Education and Minerals Development Syed Sardar Ali Shah has addressed concerns over the tenders issued for restoring flood-affected schools and the negative news surrounding the process. He clarified that the tendering procedure was conducted transparently, adhering to all rules and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The minister said 20,000 schools in Sindh were affected by the devastating floods, and efforts to restore them are ongoing. Of these, tenders were issued for 481 schools in collaboration with the federal government under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). However, disputes among contractors and petitions by habitual litigants have caused unnecessary delays, affecting the Education Department’s ability to carry out its plans.

Shah emphasized that children’s education is a priority, and delays caused by legal challenges to the tendering process harm students’ future. “Taking any project to the tender stage is itself a hallmark of transparency,” he said, noting that the process involves three stages: technical opening, financial opening, and tender awarding.

The minister further stated that only companies with strong profiles are shortlisted after thorough evaluations. He said that the Education Department will present all relevant details in court during the next hearing, in compliance with legal requirements.

Highlighting the challenges, he mentioned that disputes among contractors and personal interests have not only delayed school restoration but have also impacted other critical projects, such as the printing of textbooks.

Shah urged the courts to support the Education Department’s efforts, emphasising that delays in school restoration would result in irreparable damage to children’s education. He reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring schools and ensuring that all possible measures are taken to avoid further setbacks. “Delays in the restoration process directly harm our children. We will continue to take all necessary steps to rebuild and rehabilitate the affected schools,” he concluded.