FAISALABAD, Sept 1: The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has reportedly suspended work on a number of development projects awarded to it by the Water and Sanitation Agency, for default of payment for the works already completed.

According to details, the FWO was entrusted with a number of projects, including laying of sewerage and water pipelines, in different parts of the city.

It was awarded contracts without inviting formal tenders as a policy was formulated by the then chief minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Despite repeated requests, Wasa reportedly failed to pay FWO dues against the executed projects. Due to the indifferent attitude of Wasa, the FWO suspended work on all ongoing schemes.

Brig Commander Jawed Ashraf of the FWO’s technical headquarter, Lahore, in an SOS sent to the Faisalabad district Nazim, the district coordination officer, the city Nazim and the Wasa managing director said due to a number of reasons it was not possible for the FWO to continue with the execution of the remaining projects.

The SOS said the maintenance of heavy work force was not economically viable as no payment had been released by Wasa against the work done since June 17, 2002. Despite repeated verbal and written requests, sites of all ongoing works had not been handed over to the FWO, resulting into idling of the work force due to stoppage of work. The FWO was, therefore, bearing a heavy financial loss.

The FWO had executed the work amounting to Rs171.848 million till Aug 25, 2003, but the payment so far released by Wasa was only Rs154.024 million. An amount of Rs17.824 million was still outstanding against Wasa. The case had been pursued at all levels, but no payment had been released by Wasa for the last 15 months.