Over Rs1 billion uplift schemes hit a snag

The Rawalpindi District Council on Wednesday cancelled tenders of 147 development schemes, worth over Rs1 billion, for Rawalpindi’s seven tehsils after government contractors wrangled during the bidding of contracts.

Earlier, the district council approved Rs1.5 billion for 147 development schemes and sought bids.

During the bidding of contracts for schemes of water supply, drains, street lights, graveyards, linking bridges, small roads and road carpeting etc, the government contractors quarreled with each other, blaming each other and officials of favouritism.

After the dispute between government contractors, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Shoaib Ali, who is also the administrator of the district council, cancelled all tenders.

Sources said that funds had also been released for these schemes but the tenders were cancelled at the eleventh hour as a result of “disagreement” among government contractors.

District council sources said that new tenders will now be issued and the entire process will take three weeks. The award of contracts is expected to take place in the first week of January.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2022.