ISLAMABAD: Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has approached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) over alleged non-compliance with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) instructions in a tender for the procurement of air intake gas elements and pre-filter socks.
In a letter addressed to all concerned authorities, including the Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr Tauqeer Shah, and the Managing Director of SNGPL, TIP stated that, in addition to other issues on which the PPRA Review Board has already declared the procurement a “mis-procurement,” it has also identified several further violations that require clarification by SNGPL.
TIP raised the following concerns: (i) why SNGPL restricted the tender by advertising it only to foreign bidders; (ii) how the complainant was declared non-responsive under clause 3.2(b), which pertains only to information required from foreign bidders regarding their whereabouts and five-year experience; (iii) the complainant had submitted test reports for the paper used in manufacturing the filter, which included the manufacturer’s identification number.
READ MORE: SNGPL tender: TIP flags procurement rule ‘violations’
Since the filter is made from that paper by the bidder, Pakistani manufacturers had provided their relevant details—therefore, TIP questioned on what basis the bidder was declared non-responsive; and (iv) despite the PPRA Review Board already declaring the procurement as mis-procurement under Rule 50, why the tender has not been cancelled so far.
Transparency International Pakistan urged the Managing Director of SNGPL to TIP moves examine the serious allegations of non-compliance with PPRA rules and take appropriate action in accordance with applicable regulations.
Earlier, on April 21, 2026, the In-charge Secretariat (A&RP), Abid Akram Cheema, also wrote to the Managing Director SNGPL, referring to a complaint regarding alleged violations of PPRA Rules 2004 and the order passed by the PPRA Authority in Appeal No PPRA/AP-13/2026.
The PPRA has asked the Managing Director SNGPL to provide details regarding compliance and implementation status of its order. It has also sought comments on Transparency International Pakistan’s letter.
On April 16, 2026, Transparency International Pakistan raised serious concerns over alleged violations of public procurement rules by SNGPL in the same tender, urging authorities to declare the process a “mis-procurement” and cancel the contract.
TIP also questioned why PPRA had not ensured implementation of its own mis-procurement order.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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