KARACHI, June 15: The results of balloting of industrial plots on Superhighway under Phase-I and Phase-II have been scrapped and a five-member committee has been set up to determine whether these plots should be disposed of in future through allotment or by auction.

The decision to scrap the plots was taken in the light of the recommendations made by a three-member committee, constituted by Chief Secretary Dr Mutawwakil Kazi following controversy over transparency in allotment of plots.

The managing director of the SITE association on the occasion of balloting had stated that balloting was arranged with the cooperation of National Bank of Pakistan to make the process transparent. But, his claim was denied by the NBP which said that at the time of balloting its representative was not present as the NBP's responsibility was only up to developing and testing the software and after compliance the software was handed over to the SITE officials on May 11.

The balloting of the plots was held on May 13 for allotment of 139 plots for which 5000 applications were received. But, soon after the balloting its transparency became controversial as reportedly 14 blocks of the plots were given to favourites.

After the controversy, the chief secretary constituted a three-member committee on May 28 to go through the process and submit its findings within a week. The committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary, has recommended to scrap the results of balloting as neither the SITE association, nor the National Bank of Pakistan, was prepared to accept the responsibility for transparency in allotments through balloting.

The SITE Board of Directors which met on Tuesday gave an approval to the recommendations of the inquiry committee and constituted a five-member committee to finalize the procedure for disposing of plots.

The committee has been asked to furnish its report within a month. The committee comprises Majeed Aziz, Mazhar-ul-Haq, Arshad Tanveer, Subhan Memon and Nisar Shaikhani.