Latest news with #NESPAK
Business Recorder
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Ground-breaking ceremony of Public Facilitation Centre at SC held
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has broken ground on a dedicated Public Facilitation Centre designed to place litigants and citizens at the very heart of judicial service delivery. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Chairman of the Court's Building Committee, performed the ceremony in the presence of the chief justice of Pakistan, fellow justices, the attorney general for Pakistan, representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and officers from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), NESPAK, and the Supreme Court administration. Speaking on the occasion, the chief justice underscored that 'litigants are the pulse of judicial reform,' stressing that every touchpoint must be respectful, seamless, and located 'under one roof.' He noted that while many services already exist, their dispersion across different wings had burdened the visitors. The Centre will therefore consolidate filing counters, certified-copy desks, information kiosks, and facilitation booths into a single, citizen-centric hall, supported by modern technology integration such as biometric queue management, self-service e-kiosks, and real-time case-status displays. The registrar, Muhammad Salim Khan, highlighted that the project originated from Justice Mandokhel's vision to remove physical hurdles and create an accessible interface between the public and the Court. The NESPAK architects presented a brief overview of the design, which features barrier-free access, a digital helpdesk, and a comfortable waiting lounge. The CDA has committed to establishing a dedicated bus stop and shuttle connection, ensuring smoother transit for visitors arriving from across the capital. Appreciating the Building Committee's milestone achievement, the chief justice expressed confidence that the Centre will 'translate constitutional promises into everyday convenience,' reaffirming the Supreme Court's resolve to harness technology for faster, fairer, and more transparent justice. He announced that the Public Facilitation Centre is scheduled to be completed within two months, marking one of the fastest civil-works turnarounds in the court's history. Construction begins immediately, with phased service migration planned to minimise any disruption to ongoing court business. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
$500 million lost in Dasu project irregularities
The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs was informed Wednesday that the national exchequer has suffered a loss of $500 million due to large-scale irregularities in the Dasu Transmission Line project. The panel raised questions over non-transparent tendering practices and the awarding of the contract to an inexperienced company for the plan. The committee meeting was chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro. The body expressed serious concerns over the sidelining of the lowest bidder without substantial justification, and awarding the contract to a company that reportedly lacked the necessary experience in manufacturing bundling conductors. Senator Abro noted that favouritism towards an inexperienced firm led to a massive financial loss, and strongly criticized relevant authorities for failing to uphold transparency in the procurement process. Officials from NESPAK and the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) were unable to provide satisfactory answers, drawing sharp criticism from committee members. The chairman directed that a full investigation be launched into the matter and called for action against those found responsible. The committee chairman directed that a thorough investigation be conducted and action taken against those responsible. The committee decided to refer the matter to the Public Accounts Committee for further scrutiny. The Dasu Transmission Line Project aims to transmit electricity from the Dasu Hydropower Plant to Islamabad. It involves a 765 kV double-circuit transmission line, spanning approximately 250 kilometers, with a Mansehra and Islamabad West grid stations along the route.
Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Nespak team visits FCCI
FAISALABAD: A team of NESPAK visited Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) to discuss the issues relating to the establishment of Expo Centre in Faisalabad. They also participated in a special session of FCCI Standing Committee on Council of Textile and Expo. The meeting was chaired by Qaisar Shams Gucha Senior Vice President FCCI while it was participated by former President Mian Javed Iqbal, Convenor Standing Committee Engineer Bilal Jamil, Mian Naveed Gulzar, Mian Muhammad Latif and Muhammad Amir General Manager NESPAK and Structure Engineer Dilawar Khan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab spending Rs59bn on Lahore development schemes
LAHORE: The Punjab government is spending Rs 59 billion on 327 development schemes that are underway in the provincial capital under the Lahore Development Programme; it is focusing on the comprehensive rehabilitation of roads, streets, sewerage, and drainage systems across the city. 'To ensure transparency and maintain high construction standards, NESPAK has been engaged for third-party quality control and monitoring,' Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said while chairing a meeting held here on Friday to review the Lahore Development Programme. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Rashid Iqbal Nasir, members of the provincial assembly from across Lahore and senior government officials were also present. Speaking on this occasion, the Minister highlighted that the programme is a flagship initiative of the Punjab government aimed at uplifting underserved areas of Lahore that have remained deprived of basic facilities for decades. 'It is not merely about building roads and drains, it embodies the chief minister's vision to provide equitable living standards and robust development opportunities for all segments of society. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is personally supervising the programme to ensure its swift and effective execution,' he added. Highlighting the broader impact, he said road infrastructure plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth. Improved urban infrastructure will foster economic activity and significantly raise the standard of living for the common citizen, he added. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Syed Musa Raza provided a detailed progress update, informing participants that in the first phase, 182 schemes are being implemented across six city zones, covering street pavement, sewerage improvements, road rehabilitation, and drainage enhancements. During the interactive session, the provincial legislators voiced concerns from their constituencies. They said that street vendors should not lose their livelihoods under anti-encroachment initiatives and called for alternative arrangements to support their businesses. They also recommended that sewerage projects should be executed in a phased manner, ensuring the completion of one scheme before starting another to minimise inconvenience for residents. The minister directed the deputy commissioner to address the concerns raised by the elected representatives and stressed the timely completion of ongoing schemes, reiterating the government's commitment to inclusive and sustainable urban development. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Senate body seeks criminal action in FGEHA scandal
The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas on Monday witnessed a threadbare discussion on the inquiry conducted by the Cabinet Division concerning the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority's (FGEHA) housing project. The session was chaired by Agha Shahzaib Durrani. The Cabinet Division, in its report, found the '3Cs' guiltyClient, Contractor, and Consultantand termed it a case of 'Collusion,' said a statement. The Cabinet Division also laid grey allegations on NESPAK and stated that Rs1.3 billion for unsuitable material was approved by the consultant, when, in fact, no such work was done at the site. However, NESPAK officials claimed that the land available for the project was less than the land assigned for the project. NESPAK sought time to submit a reply to the allegations leveled by the FGEHA. Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani raised eyebrows on the 'fake bank guarantee' and asked whether the FGEHA verified the bank guarantee from the bank branch and head office. However, the FGEHA couldn't provide any reply to the query. He further asked, if the FGEHA didn't verify the bank guarantee from the Head office, then how come half of the payment was made on the same day the Bank Guarantee was submitted. Surprisingly, officials couldn't provide any reply to the query and admitted that criminal practices were involved on behalf of finance director and project director. After detailed deliberations, the committee recommended initiating criminal proceedings against the finance director, project director, and other relevant staff involved in such a crime.
