KARACHI ADMINISTRATION REJECTS ALLEGATIONS OF PROCUREMENT VIOLATIONS IN MLIR EXPRESSWAY PROJECT

Independent desk.
Karachi, August 16, : The Local Government and Housing Town Planning Department has strongly rejected allegations of procurement violations in the Malir Expressway Project (MEX/MEW), which claimed that the national exchequer suffered a loss of approximately Rs 27.5 billion due to irregularities in the bidding process.

In a detailed response to a letter from Transparency International Pakistan, the department emphasized that the procurement process strictly followed the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) Rules 2010, including international competitive bidding principles. All required documents and public disclosures were made available, and no objections were raised by SPPRA during the process.

The department clarified that all participating bidders met the eligibility criteria, including submitting necessary tax documents, contrary to the allegations. Registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) was not a mandatory condition for all consortium members, except where required by law.

The department rejected the allegations as baseless and fabricated, ensuring transparency and fairness in the procurement process.