Being dissatisfied with the construction of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry's capital office in Islamabad, two vice-presidents have demanded special audit and application of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Rules as expenditure is being incurred from public money. The contract cost of capital office building is Rs 306,725,258.
In a letter sent to the Secretary General, FPCCI on April 5, Vice-President, FPCCI, Engr Daroo Khan Achakzai has suggested to probe as to what extent transparency in incurring expenditure had been maintained so far. He has also attached a letter from another Vice-President of FPCCI, Mirza Abdul Rehman in which he had requested transparent use of public money provided by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)/Export Development Fund (EDF).
Rehman had also raised questions about the quality components of the material used in construction and raised the question regarding mismatched design, which, Daroo Khan said "also needs to be equally ascertained". "You being the Chief Executive in the present circumstances are charged with the burden of responsibility to look into the affairs of the building being constructed against the said available public money."
He further requested that before the third party intervention is made "you will please do the needful and probe into the complaint". Needless to add that in the past Sultan Ahmad Chawla Former President, FPCCI had also shown reservations, besides others. He got the estimated amount reduced by few millions, which will manifest the need to revisit the whole project in the terms of requirement of just a fair utilisation of public money, he said.
In copy of the letter sent to the Chairman EDF Board/Chairman TDAP, Daroo Khan suggested that since this project has been financed from the public money, therefore, special audit be arranged in view of controversies surrounding the issue which have been raised by members of FPCCI/businessmen from time to time. The letter from In-charge Capital Office Islamabad/Vice President FPCCI and his instant demand for a special audit as a sitting Vice president of FPCCI may together create compulsions to pass necessary orders to take stock of whole situation in the public interest, he said.
Further, since public money has been made available through TDAP/EDF Board, therefore, please examine the application of PPRA Rules for expenditure from the public money. Additionally to avoid further losses you may kindly depute an officer of TDAP or assign/engage consultant to appraise the extent of use/misuse of the public money. Meanwhile during the investigation further funds may not be transferred and the money subject of freeze till the outcome of the probe, he requested. Secretary Commerce Ministry of Commerce Islamabad has also been requested to do the needful.