Enclave shuttle service auctioned for Rs102.6 million

Al Noor Weaving Factory wins contract for three years

ISLAMABAD: The local government of the federal capital has auctioned a bus service that operates in the high-security, diplomatic enclave to ferry visa aspirants. The winning bid was for Rs102.6 million.

The auction was conducted by the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC), under the supervision of its Director MA Zafar Iqbal.

As many as eight companies had participated in the auction including MS Al Noor Weaving Factory, MS Sasim Private Limited, Shani Travellers, Infinity, Speedway, Fazal Khan and Co, MS Pak International and LGL Solutions.

In the end, MS Al Noor Weaving Factory won the contract with a bid of Rs102.6 million.

They have been awarded the contract for three years with the possibility of extending it by a further two-years. However, it will be based on the company’s performance and a 10 per cent increase in the annual increase in the fares.

The current auction pertained to the 4.6 acres of land reserved for the operation of the shuttle service and the maintenance of the buses.

As per terms and conditions, the general shuttle service will comprise 10 air-conditioned coasters, all of which have been manufactured within the past three years.

The fee for general service will be Rs500 per head for a two-way trip (from the bus terminal to the embassy and from the embassy back to the terminal), while five 1,300cc cars will be arranged for the executive service which costs Rs1,000 per head for a two-way trip.

Additionally, a parking fee of Rs30 per vehicle will also be charged as per the terms.

The shuttle operates at the exclusive diplomatic zone established in Sector G-5 of the federal capital to ferry citizens visiting the different embassies in the enclave for visa services.

The auction of the service in the federal capital has been the subject of a case in the accountability court where a former official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was accused of favouritism in allotting the tender for the shuttle service which was started by CDA in the diplomatic enclave in 2005.

The corruption in the allotment of tenders resulted in a deficit while the case against the officials landed in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) through the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). However, the inquiry against the case by NAB has been pending for several years.

During a visit to the shuttle terminal in 2017, IMC Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz had expressed his dissatisfaction over poor cleanliness condition of the canteen. He also reproached concerned departments of the IMC and CDA over the growth of wild bushes and grass in the area.

He had subsequently directed contractor of Diplomatic Shuttle Service for provision of facilities as per contract agreement.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2020.