Rs two billion USC computerisation project under greater focus

Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said on Wednesday that he would not allow anybody to misuse his name to pressurise top management of ministry''s attached departments and corporations for personal gains. Information available with Business Recorder indicate that a group of ''three'' claiming ''close ties'' to the Minister is exerting pressure/influence to award a Rs 2 billion USC computerisation contract to a specific company.
"I am a fair person and want transparency in all matters related to the ministry and its corporations/attached departments and will not allow my name to be used by anyone for personal gain," said Bijarani while talking to Business Recorder at his office.
In reply to a question, the Minister said he has taken serious note of undue delay in the computerisation of USC''s stores and warehouses across the country as, after completion of this project, corruption will be eliminated. He disclosed that the USC''s management did not prepare PC-1 of Rs 2 billion project in three years and issued tenders for selection of parties which were already blacklisted.
"I crossed out three selected companies as they were blacklisted and directed fresh bids be invited," he continued. The minister has given a deadline of March 18, 2011, to the USC management to prepare PC-1 for the project and submit a report to the ministry. Minister''s claim has however been contradicted by General Manager USC Javed Manzoor Ghauri who is inchrage of Rs 2 billion computerisation project.
"We decided to go for fresh tenders because several interested companies did not participate in the process due to flash floods. Minister is perhaps not aware of real developments," he added. Asked if the ''group'' is trying to award the computerisation project to a specific firm ie MIS, he smiled and said, ''certainly project will be awarded to the lowest bidder''.
Top officials of the Ministry of Industries who were in the meeting on Tuesday, presided over by the Minister for Industries, told this scribe that Ghauri had suggested during the meeting that the project be cleared in the meeting instead of sending it to the DWP that comprises officials from the ministry of industries, ministry of finance and planning commission.
"Since USC is purchasing computers, stationery and other such items without prior approval of the DWP, this project should also be cleared in the same way," sources quoted Ghauri as saying. However, Secretary Industries, Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, Additional Secretary and a Joint Secretary collectively turned down the proposal saying that the project with such a big investment must go to the DWP. Minister for Industries also supported the proposal of sending the project to DWP to ensure transparency and directed Managing Director USC to finalise the PC-1 within a week.