Diplomatic shuttle service: NAB chairman orders reopening inquiry

The committee found violations in the project and recommended initiating proceedings against the four officers.

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman has ordered the reopening of an inquiry into the Diplomatic Shuttle Service (DSS) project.

Earlier, NAB authorities had called off the investigation into controversial project for unknown reasons.

NAB Public Relations Officer Hafiz Irfan said NAB Rawalpindi will reinvestigate the case. He said the NAB chairman has asked for completing the inquiry within 15 days.

The DSS project was launched in 2003 to facilitate the entry of visa applicants into the highly-fortified Diplomatic Enclave.

Recently, a fact-finding committee formed in light of the recommendations of a judicial commission, had ordered a probe into dozens of CDA projects including the DSS and recommended action against four senior CDA officers.

The committee found a number of violations in the project and recommended initiating proceedings against the four officers for submitting falsified information to the CDA board, and also against the contractor for various infractions.

It also found that a cost-benefit analysis to award the contract on build, operate and transfer basis was not carried out, nor was any feasibility study conducted. “The CDA’s income decreased manifold, whereas charges to public increased tenfold,” the committee report says.

The CDA also extended the contractor other facilities including allotment of 4.5 acres along 3rd Avenue at a throwaway price to set up a bus station.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2014.