Saaf Pani Project may be awarded to Chinese companies at higher bid price

The Punjab government-owned Saaf Pani Project is likely to be awarded to the Chinese companies at a higher bid price of about Rs 280 billion, which can be completed with Rs 84 billion. This has been claimed by the Chief Executive Officer Interrove Engineering Services, Dr Nazir Ahmed Hawary. The CEO raised question marks on transparency in the project awarding process, and urged for reviewing it.
When this correspondent tried to take view of Punjab Saaf Pani Company on the issue, the secretary of the company, who was named by the operator as Owais, disconnected the call and even did not pick up the phone despite repeated attempts. Chairman Board of Director Punjab Saaf Pani Company, Kashif Padhiar told Business Recorder that contract awarding is under process. However, he negated the figures given by the Interrove Engineering Services, saying that transparency would be ensured at any cost.
CEO Interrove Engineering Dr Nazir Ahmed Hawary said that Saaf Pani Project could be completed with Rs 84 billion for all respective regions and each plant would cost Rs 7 million, which could cover the sufficient population. The Chinese companies offered Rs 10.6 million for each filtration plant.
According to CEO Interrove Engineering Services, the Punjab government-owned Saaf Pani Project for Region 1 to 14 would likely to be awarded to the Chinese companies at a higher bid price of Rs 280 billion approximately, which can be completed with Rs 84 billion.
Districts Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Bahwalnagar, Muzzafargarh and DG Khan will fall in the regions from 1 to 14. In this regard, Interrove Engineering Company, an independent consultant company sent a letter to the CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and highlighted their relevant affairs, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder.
China Petroleum and Metallurgical Corporation of China offered 11.8 billion and 16.41 billion for 20 years present value (PV) only for region 13 and region 14, which is yet again too much.
Azam Ishaque, spokesperson of Interrove Engineering told Business Recorder that open tendering process was not followed; otherwise many Pakistani companies would have participated in the process. Replying to a question, he said the chief minister had verbally assured to review the matter; however, it is now going to happen without reviewing it.
COO Interrove Engineering Muzzam Ishaque said it is a vital project and should be implemented in a professional way, instead of traditional manner. He expressed concerns on the increase in estimates and handling of some matters in a non-professional manner relating to implementation of the programme.
He said the Punjab government and Saaf Paani Project CEO Wasim Ajmal Chaudhry should adopt transparent bid process, evaluate the expertise of each company and then award the tender as per PPRA Rules, so that precious tax payers' money could be saved like they did in its previous projects.
He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stated that "Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Pani Programme" is a splendid public welfare project for supply of potable water to the masses. In view of importance of this programme, it should be implemented in a professional manner so that people should be benefited as early as possible, he added.