Latest news with #SaifullahAbro
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Rs500m loss inflicted on national exchequer? Senate body raises questions over role of Nespak, NTDC
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs raised serious questions over the role of National Engineering Services Pakistan (Pvt) Limited (Nespak) and National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) in awarding the bid to the third lowest, causing Rs500 million loss to the national exchequer. The committee met with Saifullah Abro in the chair here on Thursday for further discussion on the recommendation made after detailed deliberations in the committee's previous meetings concerning the EAD and its related departments (NTDC projects including 765Kv Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line project (LoT-I-LoT-IV) upto date progress, expenditure and briefing through MD, Nespak on ADB 401B-2022 LoT-II A(ACSR Bunting Conductor) regarding inquiries reports. The committee's chairman remarked that it was a matter of great embarrassment that Nespak, a national institution responsible for technical evaluations, failed to prevent such a decision. It was Nespak's responsibility to ensure proper verification, because Nespak's role is to scrutinise the document, he stated. Senator Abro highlighted that the 'contract is not awarded to the deserving by which the Rs500 million of the country could have saved.' He noted that 'the company to which the project was awarded Newage, Lahore, lacked the relevant experience, while expressing serious concern that this type of negligence cannot be ignored.' Senator Abro stated that the matter will be pursued through the relevant forums like, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to ensure that the public funds are recovered. He also recommended that strict action should also be taken against the involved officers. Referring to legal inconsistencies, he questioned 'if Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) laws are not applicable in the case of domestic preference, and how can a letter from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) be considered valid?' He recalled that during the previous meeting, three written letters were presented by the caretaker minister, which further raised serious questions regarding the transparency of the process. When the committee sought further details, it was informed that all relevant data from the Engineering Development Board (EDB) had been destroyed in a fire, and only one verified letter was presented before the committee. Senator Kamal Ali Agha inquired whether an inquiry was conducted following the fire incident. The concerned department stated that no inquiry had been carried out. The chairman committee, recommended that a formal inquiry be conducted into the fire incident and that strict action be taken against those found responsible, including officers from the Power Division. During the committee meeting, a discussion was held regarding where the department conducts testing, which institutions are responsible, and where laboratories are located in Pakistan. The department informed the committee that type testing is conducted internationally and not within Pakistan. It was further stated that the type test for the current year, 2024, was conducted in Hungary. The chairman inquired about who the witness to the test? The department told that the witness was not verified. They also stated that, according to a 2023 policy, having a witness was not a mandatory requirement by the consultant. However, after detailed discussion, it was revealed that no such policy had been formulated. The chairman committee strongly remarked that no valid testing had been conducted and an attempt was made to mislead the committee, which amounted to fraud. The chairman asked whether any recovery of the misused funds had been made, to which the department responded that a letter had been written to NTDC regarding the matter. The chairman committee recommended that all the involved companies be blacklisted, the misappropriated funds be recovered, and that the officers involved be terminated from service. Furthermore, he recommended that the recovered amount should be deducted from the salaries of the responsible officers. The committee also inquired about the report and minutes of the 282nd Board meeting, as well as the letter issued by the NTDC Board. It was noted that while the minutes of the committee meeting were dated 24th December 2024, the Board was required to submit its report within 15 days. However, the BOD has submitted after six months. Meanwhile, the committee remarked that the Board itself is violating its own letter and treating the amount of Rs1.28 billion as insignificant. The chairman recommended that strict action be taken against the Board and that the amount be recovered within two weeks. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Rs600m corruption unearthed in Dasu project
The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday detected mega corruption in Dasu Hydropower Transmission Line project, calling for a thorough investigation by the relevant authorities, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The committee which met with its chairman Senator Saifullah Abro in the chair, was informed that that the project contract was awarded on the basis of a letter from the Engineering Development Board (EDB) in 2015, while the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) presented wrong figures. The chair expressed anger over the alleged corruption in the project, amounted to Rs600 million. "How could the project be given to a company based on a letter," he raised the question. "It is the responsibility of all institutions to investigate it." The committee was informed that Nespak presented wrong figures during the scrutiny of the bidder, and the Nespak managing director confessed to the wrong figures. The committee directed action against the wrong figures presented by Nespak officials. "The negligence of the Power Division [in this issue] should be investigated. This matter should be investigated by NAB and FIA," Abro told the committee. "The officials who gave wrong figures should be terminated," he added.
Business Recorder
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Use of ministry's building: Senate panel briefed about non-payment of rent by NAB
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Housing and Works was briefed on Tuesday about the non-payment of rent since March 2021 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the use of a building of the Ministry of Housing and Works in Federal Lodges, Wafaqi Colony, Dhana Singh Wala, Lahore. It was revealed that a total of Rs480 million outstanding has not yet been paid by the NAB to the ministry, and the building has still not been vacated. It was further informed that the decision on the matter is pending with the Prime Minister's Office. The committee found that no agreement had been signed between the two departments. The chairman expressed serious displeasure over the negligence of the Ministry of Housing and Works. Senator Saifullah Abro urged departments to discourage such practices and to maintain clear documentation when signing agreements. The chairman directed both departments to settle the matter within one month, warning that if they fail to implement the committee's decision, the officers involved in the negligence will be summoned and punished. The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, chaired by Senator Nasir Mehmood, convened Tuesday to identify the reasons for delays in CDA and FGEHA projects, and the unauthorised utilisation of government accommodations by other departments without approval or payment of rent. The chairman of the committee commended the input of all committee members regarding the vacation of illegally possessed accommodations of the Ministry of Housing and Works in Wafaqi Colony, Lahore, by the Punjab Police. He informed that the Punjab Police had illegally occupied the said accommodations since 1990 and had never paid a single penny in lieu of using them. Punjab Police submitted the compliance report over the directions passed by the committee and upon the directions of the committee, the Punjab Police paid Rs1.6 million in rent, up to the year 2024 and assured the committee that the remaining rent would be paid in the upcoming financial year. While briefing on the progress of the construction of Islamabad Jail, the chairman CDA informed that the project was handed over by PWD to CDA with a revised cost of Rs7.4 billion on 26-06-2024. In Phase I, the construction of the Admin Block and boundary wall has been completed up to 98 percent, and roads and infrastructure up to 75 percent. He added that delays in funding from the Ministry of Planning and Development caused the project's delay. The committee expressed concern over the delay in fund disbursement by the Ministry of Finance and other concerned authorities and directed that the ministries of Planning and Development and Finance be summoned to brief the committee on the delay in releasing funds to the Ministry of Interior for CDA projects. The chairman, upon the request of the chairman CDA, recommended for hiring the human resources required to operate the jail. On the issue of malfunctioning of lifts in the Shaheed-e-Millat Building, the chairman CDA stated that only one out of five lifts was operational. Another lift had been repaired, but three were still not working. However, CDA has urgently issued a tender notice of Rs120 million for the repair of the three lifts. The Committee was informed that in the Shaheed-e-Millat Building and other government offices, some lifts are specifically reserved for VIPs/senior officers, and public or government employees are not allowed to use them. The committee took serious notice of this VIP culture in government buildings and directed CDA to eliminate such practices and ensure all lifts are accessible to the general public. The joint secretary, Ministry of Housing and Works, briefed the committee on the seniority list for the allotment of government accommodations to federal employees. He informed the committee that the ministry has a backlog of 26,000 applications, while there are only 17,000 houses available in Islamabad. The committee found the briefing insufficient and directed the ministry to provide a list of illegal allotments and the names of officers involved in such unlawful practices. The committee also ordered the discontinuation of all functions of the Restoration Committee and directed the ministry to submit a report at the next committee meeting. The committee also noted that FGEHA is not awarding tenders uniformly to firms, is not seriously pursuing its projects, and has failed to deliver completed projects to end users. Senator Saifullah Abro criticized the rising costs of FGEHA projects caused by delays on their part, with the burden passed on to the end users. The committee directed FGEHA to submit a list of all ongoing projects, including complete details and associated costs. The meeting was attended by senators, Bilal Ahmed Khan, Saifullah Abro, Husna Bano, Khalida Ateeb, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, and HidayatUllah Khan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Power transmission line: Senate panel inquires into ‘ADB-401B-2022' tender anomalies
ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs was held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro. The committee discussed the tender 'ADB-401B-2022' procurement of goods -500kV double circuit quad bundle transmission line from Sangal to 500kV Maira Switching Station (approx.83Kms), using ACSR' 'bunting' conductor. The Officials informed the committee that the bidding documents were published at the NTDC after approval from the ADB on May 6, 2022. Bids were opened on July 7, 2022. On the bid opening date, total 25 bids were received from which 4 bids received for Lot-II: conductor. ADB's ACSR Bunting Conductor: Chinese firm urges authorities to reevaluate tender The committee was briefed that M/s Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology (ZTT), China was non-responsive due to a non-compliant power of attorney and M/s Qingdao Hanhe Cable, China was also non-responsive due to non-fulfillment of performance criteria. However, M/s Henan Tong-Da, China and M/s Newage Cables, Lahore were found to be responsive. After which, Abro raised concerns that on which basis the two bidders were declared non-responsive. The officials responded that one was due to a non-compliant power of attorney, and the other failed to meet the required criteria. The committee chairman inquired as to which specific criteria had not been fulfilled, to which the officials explained that the power of attorney was not attested and the bidder had refused to have it signed. Following this, the committee recommended to invite the bidder to the next meeting to hear their perspective as well. The chairman also directed that complete details of the tender, from initiation to conclusion, be submitted to the committee. During the discussions, the committee chairman said the World Bank's project is being completed ahead of time, while yours doesn't even start on time. He added that a project of World Bank in Sindh which's completion period was three years, but it was completed in just 1.5 years. So why are projects of power delayed, and why does their work start after 10 years, there must be some issue. He directed them to look after these issues and make decisions in the interest of the country and save money. The committee chairman also highlighted as to why was the tender awarded to the third lowest bidder, instead of first one from which Rs500 million could have been saved. To this effect, the committee recommended that a letter should be sent to the FIA to recover this amount. The committee chairman mentioned that the letter being presented regarding ACSR bunting conductor dates back to 2017, which had already been burnt. However, it was presented again in the power committee in 2023, where the individual even recalled the letter number. The committee chairman remarked that they are manipulating, stating that the party originally ranked third lowest was elevated by applying a 15% increase. The committee chairman recommended that the Power Division should issue a letter and the Secretary of Economic Affairs should pursue the matter. It was also discussed that in Lot 1, an amount of Rs1.2 billion was incorrectly entered under the wrong column, as pointed out by the Members of the Board of Directors themselves in December and therefore, it should be recovered. However, the BoD representative disagreed with this stance, stating that an inquiry had already been initiated into the matter and a final decision should be awaited. Surprisingly, an officer who had previously expressed, during a power committee meeting that the amount should indeed be recovered, today the Managing Director NESPAK was claiming that the committee's minutes did not reflect such a recommendation. The NESPAK representative was seen engaging in misleading statements and was unable to respond to any of the chairman's questions. Moreover, his ability to recall, word for word, the contents and reference number of a burned 2017 letter clearly shows that something was being concealed. The Officials briefed the committee about the Sindh Solar Energy project and Sindh Flood Housing Projects/other housing projects in Sindh under the foreign funding along with the tendering process for procurement/NGOs along with quotation, criteria and list of beneficiaries. The Sindh Flood Housing project's CEO told that the 70% of Sindh submerged in water, 24 of 30 districts declared calamity-hit, 12.36 million people affected and 2.1 million houses damaged or destroyed. He further said it is world's largest housing initiative which is restoring 2.1 million homes affected by the 2022 floods in Sindh. First time in Sindh a cumulative data of 2 million household benefitting -12 million people and data collected from 24 districts (130 fields). They also mentioned the donor partners which were the World Bank, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, UNIDO and the ADB. The committee chairman asked how much had been paid to NGOs so far, to which the CEO responded that Rs4 to 5 billion had been paid. The chairman recommended that the relevant record be submitted. Subsequently, the chairman inquired about the percentage allocated to NGOs. The NGO representative informed that they are being given 9.5%. The chairman proposed that I can give you the NGOs at 3.5%. In response, the CEO stated that it is a World Bank requirement to allocate 4% to NGOs. To this, the chairman remarked that decisions are also made in the interest of the country, so you should consider the national interest and save Sindh's funds. The meeting was attended by Senators Rahat Jamali, Fawzia Arshad, Rana Mehmood ul Hassan, Haji Hidayatullah Khan and senior management from ministry/relevant departments. 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.
