Rules Violated: Sale of Passco wheat set aside

Petitioner says Passco advertised the sale of wheat below market price without inviting bids.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday set aside the sale by Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) of 400,000 metric tons of wheat as being illegal and in violation of rules. Justice Shujaat Ali Khan passed the order.

The petitioner, Socio Legal Anchors Foundation, said Passco advertised the sale of 400,000 metric tons wheat below market price without inviting bids.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Afzal A Haider, told the court that the advertisement was published on January 18, 2013, and Passco started the sale on January 21.

He argued that the entire process to dispose of Passco wheat was illegal and in clear violation of procurements rules. He alleged that rules were violated to benefit selected buyers. Haider prayed to the court that it set aside the sale of the wheat as being illegal. The court allowed the petition and set aside the process.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2013.