LAHORE: Two companies on Wednesday expressed their interest in constructing flats/apartments at Ashyana Iqbal Housing Project on Burki Road under the public-private partnership, submitting their bids to the Lahore Development Authority here at its Johar Town Complex.

The bidding process was initiated by a technical team under the supervision of the LDA director general amid the presence of the print and electronic media.

Since the bids were also invited for Ashyana Quaid (Attari Saroba), none of the bidders showed interest in it.

Another firm seeking submission of its bid for Ashyana Iqbal was not allowed to participate as it failed to submit its bid by 3pm deadline.

In the process, Saparco and GHIP submitted sealed bids, comprising Rs50 million bank guarantee (each), pre-qualification documents, technical and financial proposals. Their pre-qualification documents were opened before the participants. Their technical and financial proposals remained sealed and were handed over to a committee to open and evaluate these in order to announce name of the successful bidder in next 48 hours.

“The core objective of adopting such a process – submission and opening of bids before all – is to ensure transparency in awarding contract to the successful bidder. This is the first-ever housing project the LDA plans to get it implemented under the public-private partnership,” LDA DG Ahad Khan Cheema said while speaking on the occasion.

He said since no one showed interest in Ashyana Quaid, the LDA would make more efforts to have expression of interest in it by other companies/developers.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2015

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