Forensic Science Lab: Govt considering a third extension

The committee proposed that extension be granted and impose maximum fines on a daily basis on the contractor.

LAHORE:

The provincial government has yet to decide whether or not to give a third extension and impose a fine on the contractors for their failure to complete a forensic science laboratory in time.

An official told The Express Tribune that in its summary sent to the chief minister last week, the Home Department has suggested that another extension be granted to Al Imam Enterprises and HA Constructors, a joint venture, till July 2011 along with imposition of a fine. He said a decision in this regard is awaited.

The government earlier extended the deadline first to October 2010 and then to March 2011. The second extension was accompanied by Rs10 million fine.

The official said that a steering committee headed by Home Secretary Shahid Khan was constituted to review the progress of work following contractor’s failure to complete the project within the second deadline.

The committee, he said, proposed that extension be granted and maximum possible fines on a daily basis be imposed on the contractor.

He said scientists have already been recruited and machinery imported for the laboratory.

He said the contractor had suspended work for two weeks. “They have requested the government to not impose a fine for a second time,” he said. He added that the contractor said that delay would have no effect on the cost of the project so there was no justification for the fine.

Ahmed Mukhtar, the chief executive officer of the joint venture, said the delay was caused by Customs officials who were taking an inordinately long time to clear some machinery lying at the dry port. Another reason, he said, was that several modifications had been made to the original design of the laboratory.

Hamid Ashraf, head of HA Constructors, said the civil works were complete and only installation of machinery remained.

He said once clearance for transportation of machinery from dry port was granted, the project would be completed.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2011.