January 29, 2003	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 25,1423

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RAWALPINDI, Jan 28: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has cancelled all contracts worth about Rs20 million for the current year, it has been learnt.

The contracts, which had been auctioned out about two weeks ago, were cancelled by the RCB president, Brig Hamid Khalil. Some of the contractors, who were dropped out in the pre- qualification process of the auction, had alleged that the contracts were awarded on the basis of favouritism.

It may be recalled that they had also written to all higher civil-military authorities concerned about their reservations regarding the contracts.

The RCB chief executive officer, Iftikhar Mir, however, denied that contracts had been cancelled due to the pressure of contractors. He said the cancellation has been ordered owing to non-fulfilment of some procedural formalities. He did not give any details.

He, however, made it clear that the contracts would be awarded to the contractors, who were cleared in the pre- qualification process of the first auction. Other contractors, including those who had been raising hue and cry, would not be included, he said.

About the withheld money of the contractors, amounting to about Rs8 million, he said the matter was in court. He said the cantonment board demanded proper work, but these contractors were professional cheats. They have been looting the cantonment board for the last so many years, and now they have launched a vilification campaign against the RCB management. He said an inquiry had also been ordered to check the works done by these contractors.