NAB initiates inquiry into Karachi Safe City project

Report says rules were breached in installation of cameras

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday initiated an inquiry into the Karachi Safe City project on a complaint related to violation of the Sindh Public Procurement Regularity Authority (SPPRA) rules while executing the project.

NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has directed the NAB (Karachi) director-general to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the report of inordinate delay and violation of rules in the project.

According to a NAB Karachi report, SPPRA rules have been violated in installation of cameras under Safe City Project. SPPRA in its letter written on June 15, 2016 also admitted change of evaluation criteria to select firm to execute the project.



It had also asked the Ministry of Science and Technology Sindh Secretary in letters written on Nov 21, 2016 and Nov 22, 2016 to take necessary action as pointed out by NAB in its letter Dec 9, 2016.

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

The NAB chairman has directed the bureau’s Karachi office that no hurdle would be tolerated in such an important project. Safe city project should be completed on merit and in accordance with rules.

“NAB may not be blamed for any kind of delay whatsoever. It is the responsibility of NAB to impede misuse of authority and favouritism. NAB will fulfill its responsibility at all costs,” the NAB chairman was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the bureau on Thursday.