ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has extended the revised bid receiving deadline for New Islamabad Convention, Exhibition and Expo Centre (NICEEC) project after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that service of third party be hired for quality assurance.
Revised technical and financial bids were supposed to be received on Wednesday (today), however, now the process will be carried out on June 29.
A source said financial bids would likely be opened on July 14 for award of work.
According to PC-I, the estimated cost of the project is Rs16 billion with 270,000 square feet covered area, 60 feet height of main hall with a completion time of 18 months. Sources said the CDA wanted to get the main components of this project in one year’s time.
PM directs services of third party be hired to ensure quality; financial bids likely to be opened on July 14
However, sources said in the revised design the covered area is likely to be reduced to some extent while the height of the hall could be increased from 60 feet to 85 feet.
Background discussions with a number of CDA officials revealed that there were some concerns and questions about transparency of the whole bidding process.
However, CDA officers concerned outrightly rejected such a perception, stating that there is a PC-I and set formula.
“The total cost of the project is Rs16 billion with 270,000 sq feet covered area and 60 feet height of the main hall, in the revised design; if changes are made the cost of the project will see an increase and decrease accordingly, but in accordance with law and volume,” said a CDA official. He said the civic body always awarded contracts transparently.
“Since, only two JVs are in the race, the one that submits the lowest bid will be awarded the contract through a transparent manner,” he said.
Recently, sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the CDA to hire services of third party for quality assurance and also asked that hiring of consultants and contractors “shall be engaged through competitive bidding process in a transparent manner”.
Earlier, the CDA was also directed to set up the Project Management Unit (PMU) for early execution of the project.
The NICEEC will be set near the Bhara Kahu bypass in the Malpur area, within three kilometres away from the existing Jinnah Convention Centre. The project is expected to be initiated soon ahead of next year’s SCO conference to be held in Islamabad.
According to PC-I, the total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs19.3 billion, including contingency, consultancy, utility and landscaping work. Sources said the main project cost is Rs16 billion.
After technical evaluation, the CDA approved documentation of two joint ventures comprising international and local firms: one led by China Construction Third Engineering Bureau with Kasib Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd and Zeeruk International, and another led by China Railway Sixth Group with Usmani International Associates, Osmani and Company.
A third JV comprising Matracon Pakistan Pvt Ltd, China First Metallurgical Group Co Ltd, Tong Yuan Design Group Co Ltd, and Designmen Consulting Engineers was declared technically non-responsive. So now the said two JVs are in the race.
Sources said the design submitted by the China Third Engineering Bureau-led JV had been approved, and both responsive JVs were directed to submit technical and supplementary financial bids based on the approved design, initially on June 24 (today), but now on June 29.
A CDA working paper stated that the flagship facility will serve as a world-class multi-functional venue for conventions, exhibitions, expos, trade fairs, and cultural events, and will also host the SCO summit expected in Islamabad in 2027.
Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026