FIA initiates probe into Peshawar BRT

PESHAWAR: Following directives is sued by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has kicked off investigation into Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

The FIA sources said the Agency has acquired experts from National Highway Authority (NHA) and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to carry forward its investigation into BRT project. Additional Director FIA KP Dr Mian Muhammad Saeed would monitor the FIA investigations into this mega project. The sources said the FIA would determine if the contract of this project was awarded in accordance with the prescribed rules or not. Besides it also would find out whether the standard of quality was maintained in material used in BRT project. It would also be asserted if the work done so far on this project was in accordance with decided rules and regulations or not. The investigation would find out that when buses for this project were procured and if these buses have sufficient and proper parking spaces.

The sources said the FIA would also investigate that why the project was handed over to Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) instead of the Transport Department.

It is worth mentioning that PHC had raised 35 questions with regard to execution of this mega project and had directed the FIA to conduct an inquiry within 45 days to find out any misconduct in this important transit project.

INP adds: The KP government has announced to extend its full cooperation to the FIA in the BRT probe.

In this regard, the KP government spokesman Ajmal Wazir said the provincial government has no intentions to halt the investigation, adding that filing a plea in the Supreme Court is aimed to present the provincial government’s stance. He clarified that the KP government did not move the apex court against the decision of investigation. The spokesperson also said that several questions had been raised in the court’s verdict, whereas the provincial government’s stance was not listened properly by the PHC.