WTP Report
ISLAMABAD: China’s $100-million aid plan to repair N-5 highway damaged by recent flood threatens to expose NHA’s incompetence to corruption.The corrupt elements sitting in ministry of Communications and NHA on key positions have an eye on it too.A Chinese source disclosed that due to NHA’s unprofessional behavior and delay tactics, the grant may be canceled by Chinese government. A Chinese diplomat said on the condition of anonymity that the attitude and working style of institutions like NHA in Pakistan disappointed.
According to details Chinese government previously approved a $100-million grant for repairing certain sections of Pakistan’s N5 highway damaged by the floods. This is fully a manifestation of the long-term friendship between China and Pakistan, and it is of great significance to both countries.
According to details, to execute the above mentioned China-aid project, both sides signed the Implementation Agreement on January 20, 2020. As per the agreement, National Highway Authority (NHA), shall be fully responsible for the execution of the project, which includes the bidding process in compliance with the PPRA and Bidding Documents, i.e. biding opening, bid evaluation, bid evaluation report/result. While Chinese Project Management Company (CPMC) be responsible for supervising the bidding process, witnessing the bid opening, bid evaluation, and confirming the bid evaluation report/result. But more than three months elapsed since the bid opening on December 22, 2022; NHA still had not come up with the bid evaluation result.
According to informed sources, during the bid evaluation process, the representative of CPMC approached the NHA many times, due to NHA not scoring for the three Bidders as per the intent of CPMC, for the purpose of intervention and manipulation in the bid evaluation process. The sources also mentioned that NHA concerned also involved in malpractices and delaying tactics of the said process of the project.
Due to the consistent intervention by CPMC, NHA had to address to the Economic and Commercial Office of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and Ministry of Economic Affairs Division of Pakistan for further guidance. The Economic and Commercial Office of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and Ministry of Economic Affairs Division of Pakistan respectively responded with instruction to both CPMC and NHA of strictly complying with the Implementation Agreement and PPRA Rules and completing the bid evaluation process as soon as possible.
Sources said that NHA finally completed the technical bid evaluation report (TBER) on Feb. 21, 2023, spending two months, in compliance with the Implementation Agreement and Pakistan PPRA Rules. NHA did not issue the TBER as per the intent of CPMC, CPMC delayed on confirmation of the TBER, already seven weeks after receiving the report till date, further impacting the project progress.
The sources further said that due to non-confirmation on TBER for long time by CPMC, NHA had to address multiple times to CPMC for expedition on confirmation on TBER, and to the Economic and Commercial Office of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Ministry of Economic Affairs Division of Pakistan, and Agency for International Economic Cooperation of Ministry of Commerce of China for reporting the situation.
The N5 highway is an important part of the north-south transportation in Pakistan. The section in Sindh Province was severely damaged in the 2022 flood, which had a serious impact on the movements of the residents along the road and the development of the local economy.
Therefore, the rehabilitation of the N5 highway is the key to ensuring safe and smooth traffic in Pakistan, especially in Sindh Province, which is of great significance and urgency. In addition, the judge at the project location has written many times to the NHA, requesting to repair the damaged road. Due to the CPMC, role the project was delayed for the implementation.
The CPMC’s role in the bid evaluation process for its own self-interest is not only a disregard to the NHA, but also disrespect for the local residents and Pak-China friendship, casting a shadow on this China-aid project that symbolizes the friendship between the two friendly countries.
In this regard, we tried to contact Chairman NHA and Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal to know their position, but could not be contacted.
More details will be published soon.If CPMC,NHA wants to give their version or clarification, WORLD TRIBUNE PAK is ready to print their version. For contact Cell: 0300-9764653
Email: worldtribunepak@gmail.com
