NHA Refutes Rs1,000 Bn Corruption Allegation In Motorways

ISLAMABAD: Transparency International Pakistan has asserted that the National Highway Authority (NHA) has refuted its own minister Murad Saeed’s statement about the alleged corruption of over Rs1,000 billion in NHA contracts awarded during 2014 to 2018.

In a letter, dated Oct 18, 2021, addressed to the secretary of communications, TI Pakistan also reproduced a senior NHA official’s statement which lamented that “Unfortunately, our higher-ups need to understand and should not make such statements. NHA Audit is done multiple times and no such issue is raised other than normal observations in routine.”

The TIP said that on this particular issue, the Prime Minister’s Citizen Portal on October 17, 2021, sent the following email to TI Pakistan: “Following officer (Member Planning, NHA HQ, Islamabad) closed your complaint (code IS151021-89208797) with the following status (‘relief granted’). Please see the remarks:

Officer remarks: Dear complainant, there is no corruption. NHA awarded all the contracts as per PPRA Rules following open bidding under wide circulation. All the bids are and were evaluated and bids are awarded to the lowest bidder. Please note the awarded projects referred are an average of 15?low the estimates thus causing savings to the national exchequer. Now in the current regime, due to COVID-19 and other economic factors, not much work was available for the first two years. Now when work is tendered, under the demand and supply principle, the bidders are quoting minus 20 to minus 40 percent. The NHA again awarded the lowest evaluated bidder following the same procedures as followed earlier. Market dynamics change with time; we may see an upward trend in the future when work will be in abundance. Unfortunately, our higher-ups need to understand and should not make such statements. NHA Audit is done multiple times and no such issue is raised other than normal observations in routine.”