Blacklisted Chinese firm seeks similar action against ‘favourites’

Published November 28, 2021
The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China April 29, 2020. — Reuters/File
The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China April 29, 2020. — Reuters/File

LAHORE: A Chinese firm, which was blacklisted in October by the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), has sought similar action against five companies for submitting forged documents while participating in bidding for various projects.

The complaint filed by the company has also proved to be genuine after an inquiry team thoroughly examined it along with the evidence, Dawn has learnt.

“The Chinese firm was blacklisted last month and barred from participating in any tender for one month. However, in a recent complaint submitted to the NTDC managing director (MD), the firm called the decision based on mala fide intention and discriminatory, asking why various ‘favourite’ firms were not treated the same way,” an official source in the NTDC told Dawn on Saturday.

The NTDC — a state-owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) — had on Oct 11 blacklisted a Chinese firm over allegations of preparing and submitting forged documents to the department concerned during the bidding of a project for the procurement of insulator hardware assemblies, including Pre-RTV-Coated 160kN disc insulator (anti-fog type, porcelain or glass) for 500kV D/C Quad Bundle Transmission Lines for power evacuation from K-2/K-3 nuclear power plants.

On the other hand, the NTDC management has been told by an inquiry committee that the way the Chinese firm was treated seemed to be discriminatory, as some companies whose documents were also proved bogus during scrutiny for various tenders and projects were ‘favoured’ allegedly by some officers.

“Since the proofs appended with the firm’s complaint show that some bids of several companies in various projects were declared non-responsive instead of blacklisting them, the firm sought to also blacklist them,” the source added.

The official said the team probing the complaint also declared the firm’s stance based on facts. “The team in its report has termed the punishment given to the firm discriminatory, recommending to the MD to also take similar action against the companies declared non-responsive instead of being blacklisted in tendering process of various projects,” he added.

Talking to Dawn, NTDC MD Manzoor Ahmad said he would take appropriate action once he went through the complaint and the inquiry report. “I took over charge as MD last week. But I will look into the issue soon and take action,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2021

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.