HYDERABAD, Sept 7: Contractors of the Dadu district have demanded that the government should order an inquiry into alleged malpractice and favouritism in the award of contracts for different development schemes.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Sunday, government contractors Mohammad Sohrab Magsi and others said tenders were floated in local newspapers on July 16 for development schemes under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme and the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance.

They said the last date for receiving applications was fixed at July 23 and the tenders were to be opened on July 26.

They said they submitted the applications along with tender fee and call deposits but tenders were not issued on the fixed date.

They said on their asking they were told that the date to issue tenders was postponed and added that the exercise was repeated on four occasions.

The contractors, however, said they were informed on Aug 2 that the work had already been assigned and they should take back their call deposits.