Railways irregularities: Access to information basic right, says TIP

There were irregularities in the import of 75 engines of $15.84 million, according to TIP.

LAHORE:

Transparency International Pakistan adviser Syed Adil Gilani said on Wednesday that under Article 19-A of the Constitution, access to information was a basic right of any public organisation.

In a written reply to the chairman of Pakistan Railways (PR), Gilani said TIP was playing its role in Pakistan using this very right.

TIP had disclosed the violation of Public Procurement Rules 2004 in the tender of 150 railways engines purchased from an American firm and irregularities in the import of 75 engines of $15.84 million from China.

PR chairman also admitted that there were irregularities in the purchase of the 75 engines. TIP also attached the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) letter dated May 5, 2010 which was written to railways authorities, in which PPRA had objected to the condition in the tender that the engines would be purchased from the American firm only.

The letter explained why PR was not able to purchase the 150 engines for the past three years.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2013.