Blacklisted firm declared eligible for NGC tender

Incident raises question mark on the transparency in the NGC tender process

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LAHORE:

The National Grid Company (NGC) has declared a blacklisted firm eligible to participate in a tender for a 135-kilometre transmission line project.

According to details, NGC issued a tender for laying a 135-km transmission line. Four companies were declared eligible after a technical evaluation.

A company previously blacklisted by the Asian Development Bank for indulging in fraudulent practice and furnishing fake documents was also declared eligible after the technical evaluation. Interestingly, a blacklisted firm cannot be declared eligible for participating in any tender.

In a letter sent to NGC managing director, a Saudi investment company said the firm came to Pakistan for making investment over the invitation of the government but the blacklisted company was declared eligible, which amounts to irregularity.

The incident raised the question mark on the transparency in the NGC tender process.

The Saudi company demanded that investigation be conducted into the matter for restoring the confidence of foreign investors.

Sources said some NGC officials are changing rules to declare the blacklisted company eligible. When Express News contacted NTDC MD Engineer Shahid Nazeer over the matter, he said the letter of Saudi company was forwarded to procurement and contract management department.