Imported fertiliser Award of contract by TCP may be declared mis-procurement

The award of contract without tender for the handling of imported fertiliser to M/s. Fauji Akbar Portia Marine Terminal (Private) Ltd (FAP) by Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) faces the fate of being declared as "mis-procurement." Transparency International Pakistan, Adviser, Syed Adil Gilani has taken up the issue with the Chairman TCP, Tahir Raza Naqvi.
In a letter sent on February 9, Gilani has invited his attention to the complaint received by Transparency International Pakistan that TCP has recently awarded a contract of imported fertiliser handling without tender to FAP who were disqualified in 2011 by TCP procurement process as it did not meet the qualification/technical requirements of the TCP tender.
"In case the complaint is correct, according to Public Procurement Rules 2004, this contract shall be declared as mis-procurement under rule No 50." Transparency International Pakistan has pointed out that though FAP is a joint venture between M/s. Fauji Foundation and others, "TCP cannot award any contract to it or any other party without processing the procurement under Rule No 12(2), which reads as under:
"All procurement opportunities over Rs two million should be advertised on the Authority's website as well as other print media or newspapers having wide circulation. The advertisement in newspapers shall principally appear in at least two national dailies, one in English and the other in Urdu." Also according to Rule No 11, TCP should have obtained clear authorisation and delegation of powers for this procurement, and shall have only initiated this procurement after the approval of the competent authorities have been accorded in writing to TCP.