Not that plain: PTI urges SC to take notice of PIA aircraft deal
Alleges that the sordid tale of corruption in PIA continues.
ISLAMABAD:
Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded the cancellation of the ‘dubious deal’ for the purchase of five 777 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion.
“The sordid tale of corruption in PIA should have been stopped, but it continues with the signing of the agreement to purchase five 777 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion,” said PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mahmood, urging the Supreme Court (SC) to take suo motu notice.
The entire process, he said, has been correctly questioned by the Transparency International Pakistan, which believes that $500 million in kickbacks are involved. “This is about 50 per cent higher than the market price,” he added.
Corruption by the PIA management with the support of their political masters, according to Mahmood, is also visible from the fact that this deal was never advertised and the rules of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) were not followed. An excessive hurry in finalising the purchase was apparent. The entire deal was finalised in 21 days, which is unprecedented in aviation history.
The purchase of new aircraft is subject to a lengthy process of approvals that includes working out configuration details, testing under extreme weather conditions particularly summer temperatures in Pakistan, and compatibility with the existing repair and maintenance facilities. In particular, special attention has to be paid to issues like conformity with the existing fleet to minimise overhead costs. None of these have been undertaken, he said, which in itself is a testimony to the corruption involved.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2012.
Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded the cancellation of the ‘dubious deal’ for the purchase of five 777 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion.
“The sordid tale of corruption in PIA should have been stopped, but it continues with the signing of the agreement to purchase five 777 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion,” said PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mahmood, urging the Supreme Court (SC) to take suo motu notice.
The entire process, he said, has been correctly questioned by the Transparency International Pakistan, which believes that $500 million in kickbacks are involved. “This is about 50 per cent higher than the market price,” he added.
Corruption by the PIA management with the support of their political masters, according to Mahmood, is also visible from the fact that this deal was never advertised and the rules of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) were not followed. An excessive hurry in finalising the purchase was apparent. The entire deal was finalised in 21 days, which is unprecedented in aviation history.
The purchase of new aircraft is subject to a lengthy process of approvals that includes working out configuration details, testing under extreme weather conditions particularly summer temperatures in Pakistan, and compatibility with the existing repair and maintenance facilities. In particular, special attention has to be paid to issues like conformity with the existing fleet to minimise overhead costs. None of these have been undertaken, he said, which in itself is a testimony to the corruption involved.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2012.