ISLAMABAD: Following the federal cabinet’s recent decision of amending procurement rules, allowing government organisations to award contracts to state-owned enterprises without floating public tenders and observing a competitive process, city managers on Friday decided to get two multi billion projects executed through a government-run organisation on single tender basis.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board, which met at the civic authority’s headquarters with Amer Ali Ahmed in the chair, decided to get two projects - 7th Avenue Interchange and Srinagar Highway near Aabpara worth Rs1.5 billion, and rehabilitation of I.J.P Road worth Rs6 billion, through government organisations.

Sources said now the civic agency will send a request to the Defence Ministry for getting services either of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) or National Logistic Cell (NLC).They added that CDA prefers FWO, which is already executing Margalla Avenue project, to start work on both projects this month.

He said that as the location of proposed 7th Avenue Interchange falls in a sensitive area near Aabpara, CDA wants to get this project completed as soon as possible and only a government-run company could do this work smoothly.

The board also decided that the project for construction of establishing district courts will also be given to a government entity.

The federal government after approval from the cabinet notified Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules on June 29. The government approved amendment to rule 42 (f) of PPRA Ordinance, allowing government organisations to engage services of other government organisations without floating tenders.

CDA officials told Dawn that after amendment in PPRA rules, there are no barriers in engaging services of government organisations and “for speedy completion of our projects we decided to hire services of government entities.” They said in the past, CDA’s construction projects faced prolonged delay, controversies and corruption charges.

“Now, we think, the government-run organisation, whichever, we will hire will complete our projects within the time limit and in a transparent manner,” an officer said, adding FWO will be the best option for CDA to get the 7th Avenue project executed. There are several defence installations along the alignment of I.J.P Road, therefore, the CDA wants services of FWO, he said.

Meanwhile, the CDA board also accepted Nespak’s bid for consultancy and design of a slaughterhouse, which will be built on a five-acre area in I-14/4 Islamabad. The board also conditionally approved No-Objection Certificate (NOC) of Senate Housing Society and amendment in layout plan of sector I-11/1 and 2, due to graveyard.

The board also discussed the Safa Gold Mall project and gave a hearing opportunity to owners of the project. The management of the mall is blamed for carrying out extra construction work in violations of CDA’s bylaws. The board members told the committee since court and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases are pending, CDA at this moment cannot decide their case.

Jinnah Convention Centre

The federal government, which is owner of the purpose built Jinnah Convention Centre has already decided to privatise the iconic building.

Some months ago, the federal government had approved new parametres of the said building and gave it the status of a commercial building.

The prospective bidder can set up convention centre, hotel, office space and apartments. Whereas, the federal government has fixed a floor ratio of 1:10 and decided that total footprint of development will be up to 70pc of the total plot size.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2021