Shocking embezzlement in Karachi University

Misappropriation of millions of rupees with the connivance of the administration of Karachi University has been disclosed due to obvious irregularities in the construction work of a double-storey building for biotechnology department of the university, Business Recorder learnt it on Thursday.
According to the fact appropriate authorities of KU had already approved a tender of Rs 40 million for the construction of above-said building in 2007, but the construction work is yet to be completed even after three years. It has also been revealed that substandard material was being used in the construction of the building which may prove fatal for the students and other varsity staff.
The material being used in construction work has also been estimated double of the original rates. The concerned department of KU already sought tenders from the contractors to erect a new structure for biotechnology department having ground and first floor of biotechnology department of two sections A & B.
Sources inside University told Business Recorder that contract for construction of the new building was extended to Rao Shakeel, who hindered the construction work after developing a dispute with University's concerned authorities. Therefore the authorities gave the contract to Nasim & Co (Pvt) Limited for the completion of leftover work.
Sources said that aforementioned company has embezzled millions of rupees with the connivance of the university administration after showing increasing rates of raw material in an approved tender. The present contractor, according to the tender, got approved 500 cubic feet excavation and backfilling in Rs 10,000 but university paid One lakh 98 thousand and 809 rupees to the contractor while showing 9,940.46 cf of excavation in documents.
Filling of concrete, crush and stone crush in the foundation of the building was shown 4,506.88 cf in paid bills while 200 cf showed in approved tender due to which Rs Nine Lakh have been embezzled. According to the tender plinth beam and roof beam were approved 100 to 200 cubic feet while university paid the amount to the contractor of 508 and 583.23 cubic feet. Thus misappropriation of tens of thousands of rupees becomes obvious.
Super structure columns had to be erected 100 feet but it has been constructed 3.96 feet which may prove dangerous for lives, simply because these columns support the roof of the structure. Sources further revealed that steel of worth Rs 6.2 million and raw material of worth Rs 1.6 million was given for the establishment of two halls within the building but halls could not be constructed despite full payment was made.
Surprisingly, prices of steel used in building have been varied at three different places in approved tender. At one place Rs 87,000 per ton was approved, at other place Rs 94,000 per ton and at third place Rs One Lakh per ton was approved in the same tender.
Point to be noted, when this reporter sought the actual rates of the steel from the market, he came to know that rate of one ton steel was Rs 30,000 in year 2007, Rs 40,000 per ton in 2009 and Rs 60,000 per ton is the latest market price. Sources said that Rs Two Lakh have also been paid to the contractor despite the non-completion of telephone exchange.
Misappropriation of Rs 2.7 million, settled in contract for construction of terrazzo floor have been embezzled as the contractor just prepared an ordinary floor despite receiving amount in this regard. Misappropriation has also been witnessed in heeds of aluminium window, aluminium door and plastic emulsions. The Business Recorder has the copies of approved tender of the project and bill of quantities.
Dr Mustafa Kamal, Head of Biotechnology Department when contacted, he criticised the delay in construction work and other irregularities. He said that planning and development department of the University has paid 80 to 90 percent of the amount to the contractor even without the completion of the project.
The total estimated cost of the project, according to the approved tender is Rs 24,000,000 while 50 to 60% work of the building hasn't yet been completed. Nasir Khan Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Planning and Development was not available on phone even after several attempts.