Renovation of office of Housing Minister: TI Pakistan points out 'violation' of procurement rules

Public Procure-ment Rules (PPR) 2004 have allegedly been violated in the execution of renovation of the office of Minister for Housing & Works, Faisal Saleh Hayat. The works worth more than Rs 10 million have been executed through PWD without calling public tenders.
Chairman, Advisory Committee, Transparency International Pakistan, Syed Adil Gilani following a complaint received by Transparency International Pakistan in this regard has brought the violations to the notice of Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Works.
In his letter sent to the Secretary, he has pointed out that the items purchased for this non-budgeted works/purchase without public bidding are chairs/tables worth Rs 10,000 each (market value Rs 5,000), Sony 32 inches TV Rs 62,000 (market value Rs 41,000), false ceiling Rs 800,000, table Rs 65,000, dinner sets and wall paper, etc at exorbitant rates. These works were also banned under the austerity measures announced by the Government of Pakistan.
It was also reported that PWD is not the executing agency and it should have been CDA and that Director General, Pak PWD had requested on May10 for the exemption from the application of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules under Rule No: 42(d)(ii), which was not issued by CDA nor it gave any authorisation to PWD to execute these works as these were not included in CDA annual Plan for FY 2010-2011.
Adil Gilani has drawn Secretary's attention that all contracts of more than Rs 100,000 shall be executed by inviting tenders as per Rule No 12(2), which says that all procurement opportunities of over rupees two million should be advertised on the PPRA's website as well as in other print media or newspapers having wide circulation. The advertisement in newspapers shall principally appear in at least two national dailies, one in English and the other in Urdu.
Rs 10 million worth work should also have been included in the annual plan and budget for FY 2010-2011 under Rules No 8 which, according to the complainant is not the case in this procurement. Transparency International Pakistan has informed the Secretary that this rule does not apply in this procurement.
The rule is that the exemption can be granted if the procurement is for technical or artistic reasons connected with the protection of exclusive rights or intellectual property; the supplies may be manufactured or delivered only by a particular supplier. Transparency International Pakistan has requested the Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Works to examine the complaint and confirm to Transparency International Pakistan whether the complaint is true or false.
In case it is found true, an inquiry on the violations of rules be held and action under the rules be taken against the officer responsible for violations, and recover the loss to exchequer from the violators/suppliers. Copies of Transparency International Pakistan's letter have been forwarded to: Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Auditor General of Pakistan, Managing Director, PPRA, and Chairman, CDA.