Auto part makers reject tractor scheme

Claim the scheme lacks transparency, favours a company

KARACHI: Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) Chairman Mumshad Ali on Thursday said the Sindh government had once again announced a ‘controversial’ tractor scheme on first-come-first-served basis despite it being declared suspicious by the stakeholders as well as investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The scheme, which the provincial government announced through advertisements in newspapers a week ago, had also been announced a few months ago, which was challenged by NAB apparently on suspicion of being non-transparent, lacking merit and favouring a manufacturer, the association said in a press release.

NAB Sindh had reportedly barred the provincial government from processing the tractor scheme announced by Sindh Bank in April, it added.

The Agricultural Engineering Sindh Director Hyderabad, in a letter, revealed that NAB Hyderabad visited the Agriculture Engineering Sindh Directorate and asked to provide different documents to them. News reports suggest the tractor scheme lacked transparency as forms were allegedly distributed to sugar mills which would give them to farmers who in turn would purchase tractors from one company.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2016.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.