The Punjab government has found no irregularity and violation of rules and regulations in the purchase of angiography machine and there is no truth in the allegations levelled by Punjab Labour Minister Muhammad Ashraf Sohna in this regard.
This was observed in a report of three-member inquiry committee set up by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and headed by DG Anti Corruption Qazim Ali Malik to probe alleged irregularity in the purchase of Angiography Machine for Nawaz Sharif Social Security Hospital, disclosed an official here on Saturday. The Chief Minister has directed to send the copies of inquiry report to all the ministers, advisors and special assistants so that facts of the matter could be revealed.
It may be mentioned that the Punjab Labour Minister had levelled allegation of irregularity in the purchase of angiography machine for Nawaz Sharif Social Security Hospital Lahore upon which the Chief Minister took notice and had constituted a high level committee, headed by DG Anti Corruption former Punjab, Justice Kazim Ali Malik. The members of the committee included head of Punjab Institute of Cardiology Professor Muhammad Azhar and Member Chief Minister's Inspection Team Irfan Ali. The committee had submitted its report to the Chief Minister after complete scrutiny of all technical and administrative steps of the matter.
According to the report, specifications, quality and prices of different angiography machines were compared. Punjab Procurement Rules 2009 and all rules and regulation regarding purchase of machinery were also reviewed in detailed. The Punjab Labour Minister gave his view point before the committee while Vice Commissioner Punjab Social Security Bilal Ahmad Butt, Director Medical Dr Naser Jamal Pasha, Director Purchase Dr Muhammad Ilyas, Cardiologist of Nawaz Sharif Social Security Hospital Dr Fawad Hakeem, Cardiac Surgeons Dr Farid and Dr Shahid Malik and Cardiologist Dr Farooq Tipu Sultan also presented their written view point before the committee.
As per the report of the committee, Mediquips Company (Pvt) Limited had submitted quotations of different prices for the purchase of angiography machines to PIC and PESSI on February 9, 2010. The files of both the institutions were reviewed in detailed in this regard and after comparison of technical details and capacity of the machines, it was concluded that the allegations levelled by the Minister are contrary to the facts, as the machine purchased by PIC is only for the heart angiography while the universal angiography machine purchased by PESSI has the capacity for the inspection of the whole body.
Moreover, the X-Ray tube of PESSI has a guarantee of five years and the entire machinery of PIC has the warranty of three years. PESSI completely followed rules and regulations for the purchase and the recommendations of the highly professional experts who were in the technical evaluation committee and purchase committee were completely followed for ensuring quality and durability. After receiving the report, the Chief Minister Punjab issued instructions to send its copies to all members of Punjab Cabinet, Chief Minister's Advisors and Special Assistants so that facts could be revealed.