Contractors cry foul over 'skewed' funds

The Contractors Association of Sindh staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday against what it termed "unfair distribution" of development funds and alleged corruption in the Sindh Works and Services Department.

The demonstration was led by Association President Dost Ali Rind and General Secretary Asghar Ali Memon, and attended by a large number of contractors carrying placards and banners while chanting slogans against alleged injustices.

Protesters claimed that in the department's Annual Development Programme (ADP) book, as many as 177 development schemes had been allocated a token amount of just Rs1,000 for the entire financial year.

"This is blatant injustice to small and professional contractors. With such an allocation, not even a single scheme can be completed," said Rind.

He alleged that, in contrast, full budgets had been allocated to projects of a few influential contractors. "This reflects an inequitable distribution of resources and violates principles of transparency. We have information that certain influential contractors are receiving undue benefits due to their close links with the secretary of the Works and Services Department," he added.

Memon alleged discriminatory treatment of contractors in the education, works, public health, and engineering departments. He demanded a high-level inquiry into what he described as "hidden tenders" and collusion within the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.

The association demanded immediate cancellation of the current budget allocation in the Works and Services Department and called for revisions to the ADP book to ensure equal funding for all schemes.

It also sought transparent investigations against officials of the Works and Services Department, Planning and Development authorities and the regulatory body, along with legal action against those involved in financial irregularities.

The protesters urged the government to safeguard the rights of small contractors and ensure that public projects are awarded strictly on merit. They warned that if their demands were not met within seven days, the protest would be expanded and the matter taken to courts and accountability institutions.