Irregularities detected in QASPL contract award

Appointment process for the top positions of the consultant company was allegedly not transparent

LAHORE:

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has launched a probe into alleged irregularities detected in the awarding of key positions to blue-eyed officials in a project of the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Power Private Limited (QASPL) aimed at providing electricity to six districts in southern Punjab.

The ACE Lahore Region has issued notices to former energy department secretary Muhammad Aamir Jan and Kamran Khursheed, who is the brother of former principal secretary II Tahir Khursheed, besides other officials to appear on July 5.

Sources confirmed that the department launched the inquiry into a solar energy project which was rolled out to provide electricity to six villages in different districts of South Punjab and the accused allegedly disregarded the laid-down recruitment process and picked their favourite candidates.

It was alleged that blue-eyed contractors were awarded the contract of installing the solar power project for senior positions of chief executive officer, plant manager as well as a human resource manager.

Furthermore, the consultant company which approved the appointment of important positions has also been included in the investigation, whereas, a construction firm is also being investigated.

“The appointment process for the top positions of the company was not transparent,” the sources added.

Meanwhile, the ACE would also inspect the quality of the material being utilised in the execution of the project.

It is pertinent to note that the Punjab government’s subsidiary - QASPL- was established under the Companies Ordinance of 1984 in 2013 to build, own, operate and maintain the solar power plant in Bahawalpur. The company achieved commercial operation date on July 15, 2015 after the National Electric Power Regularity Authority granted generation license to it, which is valid till December 30, 2039.