Airport scandal in full view

Regard for human safety is nonexistent when it is juxtaposed with profits to be made


Editorial November 09, 2017

Although there is a lot of hoopla regarding New Benazir Bhutto International Airport’s latest scandal in which the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) awarded a small dam construction project to a company that had no expertise in the matter, considering the many criticisms faced throughout its establishment, this new story is not all that shocking. Government departments have built a reputation for deep-rooted corruption and at this point they are unlikely to turn over a new leaf. It will be a long time before we can set higher expectations from those in the corridors of power. Until then, we must hold officials accountable for such a poor selection of a company to handle a multimillion-rupee undertaking that is the subset of a multibillion-rupee airport project.

The low standard procedure followed by the CAA for the selection of the company and the defensive statements put forth hint at collusion; one questions whether there were conflicts of interest and nepotism involved. Both the CAA and the company need to face repercussions for their practices. The Public Accounts Committee and the National Accountability Bureau have an opportunity to set an example for the entire nation as they would reinforce the system of checks and balances by one government body onto another — the lack of which has been resultant in everybody disobeying the laws of the land. Moreover, the private construction company that submitted doctored documents to try to establish proof of competence should be tried. For perspective, should the proposed dam be of such sub-par quality to trigger a calamity, the company along with the CAA could be held responsible for any loss of human lives, as well as for financial damage.

Regard for human safety is nonexistent when it is juxtaposed with profits to be made. This has almost been adopted as a policy by government and non-government entities alike. Therefore, the CAA, with its claims that false documents were accidentally submitted by the construction company, must not be excused and should be further charged with falsehood.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2017.

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