ISLAMABAD: A committee formed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to probe a Rs20 billion quotation scam has partially completed its investigation.

The committee was tasked to conduct audit and investigation of the Market and Road Maintenance Directorate, Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO) and the Environment Directorate of the civic agency in the current fiscal year.

During the last few years, mainly these directorates and some others in violations of rules split the scope of development works worth around Rs20 billion and conducted it through quotations of Rs500,000 each. A quotation is meant just for a highly emergency work with the maximum limit of Rs500,000. For this purpose, the CDA is exempted from calling open tenders.

However, some officers of the CDA conducted works worth around Rs20 billion through quotations without calling tenders.

Directorates allegedly split scope of work, completed them without calling tenders

Even a former chairman had issued two warning letters, informing officers of the CDA not to carry out any work through quotations.

But in blatant violations of rules and regulations, the various wings of the civic agency conducted massive works, including what many officials alleged unnecessary ones, through quotations.

“The investigation of documents has almost completed and now we are getting physical verification of all works which had been conducted through quotations. Then we will prepare the report,” a senior the CDA officer told Dawn on Friday.

He said once the probe was completed, all those involved in the scam will be brought to justice.

“We will not spare anyone. After holding local government elections, which are slated to be held on Dec 31, we are planning to make major reshuffling as the Election Commission has banned transfers and posting now. Only officers of good reputation will be given major responsibility,” the officer said.

Asked about the audit of the current fiscal year, he said once the ongoing probe was completed, “We will start investigating the previous few years as well.”

Some directorates of the civic authority are also accused of making double payments as many works were carried out through quotations and tenders as well.

However, another senior officer said he could not say anything about double payments.

“The committee is looking into the issue as well; let’s wait what they find out,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources said that some directorates of the CDA were still trying to get additional around Rs200 million released from the finance wing for what they claimed “pending payment.”

The sources said the probe committee was formed by CDA Chairman retired Capt Mohammad Usman with a direction to carry out an impartial and merit-based inquiry.

CDA spokesperson Syed Asif Raza said the probe was underway and once completed “we will move forward based on its report.”

CDA officials, who had no role in the quotation work, said in the open bidding process, the bidders will have to face several quality checks such as lab test of building material, measurement of work etc, but in quotation there was no such mechanism. Therefore, they said not only the CDA’s kitty was allegedly targeted but quality was also compromised.

It may be noted that during the last two annual audits of the CDA conducted by the Auditor General of Pakistan office, the quotation scam could not get attention of the auditors.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2022