NAB takes notice of violations in Karachi Safe City Project

ISLAMABAD: Chairman National Accountability Bureau Justice (R) Javed Iqbal on Thursday took a notice over delay, alleged misuse of authority, non-transparency and violation of laws of Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) in award of contract for the Karachi Safe City Project and directed the NAB Karachi for detailed inquiry and submission of the report to him.

According to NAB Karachi report, SPPRA rules have been violated in installation of cameras which was admitted the violations by SPPRA in its letter written on June 15, 2016 and had also admitted change of evaluation criteria. It had also asked Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology Sindh in letters written on Nov 21, 2016 and Nov 22, 2016 to take necessary action as pointed out NAB in its letter dated Dec 9, 2016.

In response to letters of NAB, SPPRA had conveyed NAB that rules have been followed in awarding the contract contrary to its earlier letters.

The chairman NAB has directed NAB Karachi that no hurdle will be tolerated in such an important project. “The Safe city project should be completed on merit and in accordance with SPPRA rules. NAB may not be blamed for any kind of delay what so over,” he further directed.

He said it is responsibility of NAB to impede misuse of authority and favoritism. “The NAB will fulfill it responsibility at all costs,” he said.