KARACHI, Feb 19: The Sindh High Court restrained the customs authorities from proceeding with the auction of the machinery and equipment imported for the National Highway Authority for its motorway project by a sacked contractor.

In a petition filed through Advocate Nisar A. Mujahid, the NHA submitted that following an international company's failure to perform its functions, it took over the construction of the M-1 Motorway leading from Islamabad to Peshawar. The contractor had, meanwhile, imported certain pieces of machinery, which it was entitled to purchase without payment of duties on behalf of the NHA.

Since the sacked contractor did not clear the consignment, the French consignor informed the NHA, the customs authorities had decided to auction the machinery.

The NHA took the matter up with the customs authorities but received a negative response. In fact, a bid for Rs10.01 million was already under consideration of the customs authorities.