Transparency International Pakistan is to investigate Punjab government's laptop scheme, metro bus project and Ujala programme on the request of Deputy Prime Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira. TI Pakistan has requested the two to send proof in support of their allegations of corruption.
TI Pakistan during the past five months signed three MoUs with three federal ministries: (I) with PTA on December 14, 2012 in presence Dr Hafiz Sheikh, the then finance minister; (ii) on January 3, 2013 with BISP in presence of Farzana Raja; and (iii) with PIA on October 12, 2012, for the implementation of Integrity Pact.
TIP will provide assistance to BISP gratis, which will encompass the following: (i) bring to the knowledge of the Federal Minister and Chairperson BISP and the Secretary, the anomalies in procurement along with recommendations to address them; (ii) ensuring that tender procedure complies with Public Procurement Rules 2004; (iii) tender documents are made available to all qualified interested parties; (iv) formation of transparent tender evaluation criteria; (v) complaints, if any, received from the aggrieved party addressed on merit by a grievance committee as per rules; (vi) BISP will ensure that TI Pakistan's observations are addressed promptly and ;(vii) TI Pakistan under its charter will not participate in BISP tendering process in any capacity except as an observer and will not be part of any decision making process.
Following the federal government's initiative, three departments of the Punjab government ie energy, higher education and Lahore Development Authority (LDA) also signed MoUs with TI Pakistan. Under these MoUs, TI Pakistan will examine the application of Punjab Procurement Rules 2009 in laptop scheme, Ujala program and metro bus project.
TI Pakistan Chairman Sohail Muzaffar in a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister has quoted the allegations of corruption he has levelled against the Punjab government in media. TI Pakistan has requested the Deputy Prime Minister to send details of the allegations within seven days, which may also be examined while examining the application of Punjab Procurement Rules 2009 in the said projects of the Punjab government.
TI Pakistan Advisor Adil Gilani told Business Recorder that TI Pakistan had also requested Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira to send documentary evidence in support of his allegation against these projects.