MULTAN: The National Accountability Bureau, Multan, has started an inquiry against the administration of the Islamia University, Bahawalpur, for its alleged involvement in the Rs87 million scam.

According to official sources, the NAB received an application back in May this year wherein the complainant accused the IUB admin of committing irregularities in the construction of its Baghdadul Jadeed Campus boundary wall and installation of solar Light Emitting Diode (LED) street lights to enhance security. The complainant whose name is being kept secret estimated the size of the embezzlement around Rs70 million.

During the complaint verification, NAB learnt the boundary wall contract was given to Mescott Group, a construction firm from Faisalabad, at Rs4000 running foot (RFT) despite the fact that the government schedule rate for the construction of boundary wall was Rs2330 RTF.

Sources said a previous contract for boundary wall at university’s Khawaja Fareed Campus in Rahim Yar Khan in 2015 was awarded to two firms at Rs2600 RTF.

To accommodate the firm, its enlisting with university was done only two days before the bidding on Feb 10 in the violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules. The bidding was done on Feb 12 and the firm was given the work order on Feb 16.

Sources said as per government schedule rate the cost of the boundary wall project was Rs80 million but the contract was awarded at Rs144 million.

Similarly, official schedule rate for solar LED light is Rs140,000 per light but the contractor was awarded to M/S Blue Surge Private Limited at Rs190,000 per light.

They said that according to government schedule rate the cost of installed LED lights was Rs63 million but the contractor was paid Rs80 million.NAB’s Media Cell Deputy Director Asim Raza said bureau’s Multan office received the complaint on May 18 and after verification it was forwarded to the NAB headquarters for a thorough inquiry on June 23.

He confirming that a detailed inquiry into the alleged embezzlement had been started.

METRO BUS: Work on the metro bus depot complex being built over a 20-acre piece of land is in final stages.

Project spokesman Asghar Khan says the track of metro bus, carpeting of two-lane road linking the bus depot and bus track, laying of drainage and water supply lines, washing area and fuel section have been completed.

He said that space to park 100 buses of 11 feeder routes is being identified. He said the buses would be parked at two places that could be established near Dera Adda and Vehari Chowk.He said the landscaping of metro route with the plantation of 400,000 plants and 4,500 trees had been completed.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2016