The prime minister has taken notice of allegations of corruption, misuse of authority, favouritism and nepotism against some officers of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and has sought a report.
According to officials, PPRA employees are paid millions of rupees per month in the name of honoraria and that too from the loan repayable to the World Bank.
The honoraria (equal to 12 basic pays) are not only illegal but without precedent. Almost every PPRA employee is also being paid a 20% additional allowance.
"I would, therefore, advise you to please look into this matter immediately and seek the guidance of PPRA board, including on any recoveries of the unauthorised grant of honoraria that may need to be made," said a letter written by the Cabinet Division to the PPRA managing director.
Another letter issued by the Cabinet Division to the PPRA MD, on July 25, 2024, stated that multiple complaints had been received from the Prime Minister's Office relating to allegations of corruption, misuse of authority, favouritism and nepotism against some of the PPRA officers. The PPRA's grievance redressing committee had been deciding all irregular procurement cases in favour of contractors, causing a loss of billions of rupees to the public exchequer, it said.
These cases mostly pertain to the NHA, Pak PWD, the power and energy sector and Utility Stores Corporation.
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