LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday stayed a contract for hardware supply awarded to a Turkish firm by the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), directing the company’s grievance committee to verify qualification of the contractor.

The NTDC had opened a tender for procurement of hardware material, accessories, including dampers, wire and other items for 500kV Transmission

Line from Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Project to Domeli. Five companies from different countries participated in the bidding process.

Through its local agent in Pakistan, M/s Mosdorfer of Austria, one of the participants in the bidding process, challenged the contract awarded to SA-RA, the Turkish company.

Representing the petitioner-company, Advocate Azhar Siddique argued that the NTDC awarded the contract to the Turkish company in violation of procurement rules. He said the respondent company lacked experience and qualification required for the contract.

The lawyer asked the court to cancel the contract awarded to the respondent company and direct the NTDC to award the same in favour of the petitioner-firm for being a qualified bidder.

Justice Ayesha A. Malik stayed the contract and directed the grievance committee of the NTDC to submit a report after verifying qualification and credentials of the Turkish company within 15 days.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2016