EDB asked to stop payment to consultant

The Ministry of Industries and production has directed the Engineering Development Board (EDB) to stop payment to Shamrock-a private consultant it hired to project Pakistan at an international exhibition recently held in Germany-for its poor performance.
The EDB had hired Shamrock Communication, Karachi as event management company for a period of one-year and was tasked to coverage, reporting, transmission and other arrangements for Hannover exhibition, 2006.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Jahangir Khan Tareen has observed that the performance of Shamrock was very poor and directed that no amount should be released to the consultant without the approval of the Minister's office.
Sources confided to Business Recorder that the Shamrock was being penalised for releasing a news item to media mentioning exact number of delegates (220-member).
The revelation by the consultant disturbed the concerned as such a huge delegation has never gone to a fair before. Many said this had allowed a joy ride to many participants from ministry and EDB.
The EDB, despite the fact that last year's participation brought no significant orders of engineering goods, decided to spend twice public money as compared to last year's Rs 35 million. Prior to last year participation, the private sector itself bore the expenses.
EDB have spent over Rs 60 million in Germany and Rs 11.3 million in Pakistan. Of the total expenditure abroad, they paid Rs 25 million on acquiring 1100 sq mtr space for private companies, Rs 3 million for pavilion utilities and Rs 2.4 million to be paid to 22 translators/assistant and hostesses hired for the fair.
Besides, Rs 20 million were spent on the construction of stands and decore and contingencies and Rs 2.5 million on entertainment of the delegation during its stay at Hannover.
An amount of Rs 11.3 million was spent on delegates bags and batches, up-gradation of website, directory of exhibition and delegates, printing material, lapel pins, and 10,000 footballs, multimedia, invitation cards, freight and shipment including handling and delivery, consultancy charges, out-of-pocket expenses, bank charges, custom clearance, inland freight charges and CBI support programme-cost sharing.