LAHORE: After Lahore, the Punjab government has launched procurement of electric buses for Faisalabad and Bahawalpur to overcome shortage of quality transport for the public at large and get rid of traffic congestion, environmental/smog-related issues, etc.

A meeting of the authorities (Punjab Transport Company) dealing with the procurement, prequalification, bidding etc is expected to be convened on Dec 30 after which those (the prequalified firms) would be allowed to participate in the international competitive bidding process under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and regulations, Dawn has learnt.

“The last date for the bidders to participate in the prequalification process was Dec 20. Now, the officers concerned are busy scrutinising documents of the firms/manufacturers intending to participate in the international competitive bidding. Hopefully, they will complete the assignment in a day or two after which a pre-proposal meeting will be held on Dec 30,” a source told Dawn.

According to a document, since Punjab, in general, and the major cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Multan face severe transportation related issues.

The initiative aims to improve environmental conditions and promote sustainable economic development in the region by way of implementing a project involving pure electric buses in Bahawalpur and Faisalabad by having environment friendly vehicles to the public transport sector.

“In alignment with this objective, the Procuring Agency (Punjab Transport Company) intends to procure pure electric buses and allied tools/services etc,” the document states.

The prequalification of the firms is being made under strict terms as the firms meeting prequalification should have minimum net worth of $200 million (excluding any surplus on revaluation) evidenced by the most recent audited financial statements. Similarly, they should also have, according to the requirement, an average annual turnover (minimum) amounting to $600 million only pertaining to bus production evidenced by the most recent audited financial statements.

Likewise, the minimum average annual turnover of the firms should be based on total payments received by an applicant (firm) for contracts completed or under execution in the last three years audited financial statements. In case an applicant operates in any country other than Pakistan, the historical financial statements, under the requirement, have been translated at the rate specified in the State Bank of Pakistan interbank rate as at the date of the financial statement.

Moreover, the prequalification of the firms must have experience of production of buses (CBUs measuring 7.5 meter and above) for at least five years and having produced a minimum average of 7500 CBUs of 7.5m and above of all types and specifications over the last three years.

Moreover, they (the firms) must have also experience of selling a minimum of 300 CBUs of pure electric city buses from 7.5m to 13m over the last four years. Besides this, they also should have completed at least three similar projects for supply of 7.5m to 13m long electric buses (CBU) with an order of minimum 100 buses (CBU) per order during the last five years.

“Hopefully, the international tenders would be floated by next month through publishing in the local and international print media,” the source said, adding that an internal team has also been assigned the task to explore design and quality / standard of electric buses plying in developed countries on urban routes in various countries including China, UK and other European countries.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2024