Builders accuse EDO of receiving kickbacks

Rana Saleem denies the allegations.

LAHORE: The Building Contractors’ Welfare Association has accused the finance executive district officer (EDO) of receiving bribes on payment of their bills.

Association members have written an application to the commissioner requesting that the EDO be transferred. Otherwise, they say, they would stage a sit-in in front of the Provincial Assembly.

The application, signed by 60 association members, say they would also stop work on development projects if their demand was not met.

Haji Maqsood Butt, the association president, said EDO Rana Saleem did not release funds for the contractors who refused to pay him his ‘commission’.

He said one of Saleem’s relatives received the kickbacks on his behalf. He said the amount ranged from one to five per cent of the project cost.

On Tuesday last, the contractors had refused to bid for 120 tenders to register their protest against the alleged corruption by the EDO.

The district officer (buildings) had to cancel the bidding.

The EDO denied the allegations.

“If any contractor has a complaint, they should contact me. The contractors should let me know if anyone has been receiving the kickbacks on my behalf. I will take
action against them,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2014.