NAB seeks halt to Karachi Metro Bus project

[Salman]

LAHORE - National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the complaint of Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has sought report from Sindh government over alleged corruption of Rs45 billions in Karachi Metro Bus Project, documents available with The Nation reveal.
A letter written in this regard by NAB to Sindh chief secretary further revealed that Bureau has stopped Sindh government to signing the subject contract of the project. TIP had drawn attention of NAB chairman towards allegations of over the alleged corruption committed through the collusion between Sindh government and Bahria Town in the bus project.
The TIP had received a complainant wherein it was alleged that in March 2014 Bahria Town announced to construct Karachi Metro Bus Service from Bahria Town to Airport and Tower, and the estimated project cost was Rs25 billion rupees which is now being claimed to have surged to Rs70 billion in January 2015, in just 10 months time. A news item in this effect was published in The Nation on 7th this month.
Bahria Town was supposed to bear the expenses of the Rs25 billion project. But on February 5, 2015, it was announced that Bahrai Town will construct 54 kilometers long project in 11 months time, at cost of Rs70 billion, and it will give loan to Sindh government of Rs42 billion for 15 years. Sindh government will fund Rs20 billion, and will take Rs 8billion from federal government, and that the agreement will be executed on Monday February 9, 2015.
A Letter addressed to NAB chairman by TIP spokesperson said the cost of construction of the section from Bahria Town to Sohrab Goth shall be funded by the Bahria Town, as it was announced by Town chairman in March 2014 that this project was to serve the residents of Bahria Town, Gadap.
Bahria Town on its website made the announcement that “Bahria Town is launching the first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Karachi, similar to the Lahore and Rawalpindi Metro Bus service. An amount of Rs25 billion is being spent by Bahria Town for this project which will be funded completely by Bahria Town without any government funding”.
A letter of similar nature was also written by Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) wherein views and comments were sought from Sindh government before signing any agreement.
CORRUPTION CREATES HURDLES IN PROGRESS OF SOCIETY: NAB CHIEF
Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Chairman National Accountability Bureau Qamar Zaman Chaudhry Saturday said that corruption is one of the major factors which creates hurdles in the progress and prosperity of a society and causes injustice, poverty and subsides merit, and deprives a deserving person of its due right. The chairman NAB inaugurated Security System in NAB Quetta Bureau and inspected, personally, compilation of record of different cases in NAB Quetta along with DG NAB, Quetta.
“Corruption affects country just like a cancer,” the chairman said.
He said that awareness and prevention of corruption is a challenging task and as Pakistanis it is our moral duty to spread awareness regarding the ill effects of the menace. “All the segments of the society should play an active role for the eradication of corruption from the country. There are many examples of the countries which achieved progress and prosperity through effective legislation and by combined efforts of government and general public for the elimination of corruption,” he added.
He said NAB is determined to eradicate corruption from the country with absolute professionalism, integrity and without fear or favor to anyone. He said that NAB believes in ‘zero-tolerance’ towards corruption.
It is encouraging for NAB that for the first time anti-corruption has been made a part of development agenda in Pakistan in the context of governance. The Planning Commission of Pakistan has included a chapter devoted to issues of corruption in the 11th five-year plan and we intend to work closely with Planning Commission to achieve the goals set in there. He said that corruption is not only causing delay in the early completion of development projects but also causes huge losses to national exchequer. It also increases inflation in the country decreasing the buying power of common man.
He said that the latest Transparency International report (CPI) has graded Pakistan at 126th position out of 175 countries worldwide. In fact this is the highest position attained by Pakistan since Transparency International started the ratings in 1995. He directed all ranks of officials of NAB Quetta to work with more hard work with honesty and integrity.