While taking cognisance of the Bougues Stereau, a French group's complaint, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to make it a detailed presentation on its improvement/refurbishing of sewage treatment plant project to justify the short-listing of three parties to award the contract.
The distortion of facts during presentation can lead to action against officials of CDA.
The complainant group had apprised the NAB that the CDA and its French consultant were not following transparent procedure of awarding contract just to keep it out of process, which was sheer negation of the policy of the government of promoting fair play at all levels, in particular in award of mega projects.
The CDA's project of Rs 1.2 million for improvement/refurbishing of swage treatment plant is being questioned at various levels.
The aggrieved group has already raised the issue with the President and Prime Minister through a letter wherein they were informed that CDA was intentionally ignoring it to pave the way for pre-qualification of some less experienced companies for the project.
Bougues Stereau had contested CDA point of view in its letter. It said that CDA claim of including seven companies for the run was an eyewash as four of seven groups mentioned in its reply represented one group ie Veolia Group.
The list of companies picked up by CDA showed that it included at least one group, which was not only in litigation with the government for having failed to meet the deadline for Karachi International Airport but also according to the consultant itself it lacked experience and capability in handling such a big project.
The consultant advertised a Rs 1.2 billion project in CFCE, a French magazine, instead of advertising it in any reputed international newspaper in August which is month of holidays.
Bougues Stereau had referred the matter to the French embassy in Islamabad and asked to take the matter with CDA to get it enlisted for pre-bidding of the project as sewage treatment was its area of expertise being one of the world giants.