Park Enclave: Contract given without bidding
Even before the commencement of work on the Park Enclave housing project, controversy continues to haunt the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has awarded a contract worth Rs1 billion for the development of its much-trumpeted housing scheme that was launched early this month.
Sources in the authority, requesting not to be named, told the Express Tribune that the contract has been awarded on single tender basis in sheer violation of the Public Procurement Rules.
The development work has been awarded to a CDA contractor Mian Waqar without fulfilling the bidding process. Now the contractor is set to make “more” money out of this “favour” being extended by the civic agency, the source added. The contractor has submitted the rates of Maqbool Associates which constructed the Zero Point Interchange for the development of Park Enclave. “The two projects of different nature do not merit similar rates,” he maintained.
The rule 20 of Public Procurement Rules, 2004 provides that “the procuring agencies shall use open competitive bidding as the principal method for the procurement of goods, services and works.”
Moreover, Rule 12(2) provides that all procurements of over Rs2 million should be advertised on the authority’s website, as well as in print media having wide circulation.
Auditor General of Pakistan in its report for the year 2010-11 has observed that the authority suffered a loss of Rs257.47 million for irregular award of works without going into any tendering process.
An official said the development work falls under the purview of Road Division-III, Directorate South, but it has been awarded to Roads and Market Maintenance Directorate.
It is also a matter of concern that the firm does not have any heavy machinery to execute such a huge project.
CDA spokesperson, when contacted, declined to comment on the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2011.
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