After NAB, ACE to scrutinise mega projects

Contractors blame anti-corruption watchdog for ‘harassment’

LAHORE: Following the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has also started scrutiny and monitoring of mega-development projects, The Express Tribune learnt on Sunday.

Through an official communiqué, the establishment has asked the Planning and Development (P&D) Board to provide planning and financial information of all development projects across the province.

The establishment has also sought details of local government development funds and powers of the local government representatives. It has sought records of streetlight procurement in the provincial capital and summoned all members of the streetlight procurement committee and former mayor Col (retd), Mubashir Javed.

Earlier, as per Clause 33-B of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, all ministries, divisions and attached departments of the federal government, all the departments of the provincial and local governments, statutory corporations or authorities established by the federal government or provincial government and holders of public office are bound to furnish a copy of any contract, entered into by such institutions of the minimum monetary value of Rs50 million or more.

Currently, all major development projects, including Lahore Orange Line Metro Train and Multan Metro Bus, are under investigation by the accountability watchdog.

Now following the action of the ACE, the business community, especially contractors, are complaining about the highhandedness of the government’s anti-graft agencies.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a contractor who had been working on several development projects during the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regime underscored that the P&D board has failed to develop a standardised system of specification for development projects. He highlighted that all development projects, completed or underway, were based on an obsolete market rate system of the 1980s.

He highlighted that no development project could be executed without formal approval from the P&D board and other government agencies, but when it comes to scrutiny or accountability, both NAB and ACE are tightening the noose around contractors.

Everywhere in the world government agencies protect and facilitate their companies because they consider them as development partners of the government, but in Pakistan, the situation is different altogether.

“As per the historic decision of the Bombay High Court, all civil and contractual disputes cannot be treated as criminal offences. But here in Pakistan, criminal cases are being registered in the name of accountability,” he maintained.

Another contractor suggested that the government should adopt a modern system of specification since the old system does not have any information about modern construction techniques and machinery.

Currently, the government agencies are using different specification systems as per their convenience but when it comes to scrutiny, anti-graft agencies ask contractors why same specifications are not used for all types of projects. The government should adopt a uniform specification system for all development projects.

A contractor working on ongoing development projects said: “Earlier NAB officials were asking contractors about how they secured tenders and now, after the appointment of a new ACE director-general, the establishment is also asking the same questions. ACE officials are harassing contractors and sometimes it seems that they are trying to establish a connection between contractors and members of the former ruling family,” he alleged.

Recently, in a meeting with a delegation of the Construction Association of Pakistan (CAP), NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal highlighted that the bureau has established business desks at NAB headquarters in Islamabad and Lahore office to facilitate the business community.

Members of the delegation appreciated the bureau’s efforts and agreed on providing technical help to the anti-graft watchdog in the scrutiny of agreements related to construction projects.

On several occasions, the bureau has pointed out that some government departments and agencies did not submit the details of procurement contracts and tendering of projects over Rs50 million. The bureau has also warned of strict action against these departments but the situation is yet to improve.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2019.