Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed authorities to launch an investigation into a complaint filed by Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) concerning alleged violations of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
According to an official statement, the prime minister took notice of the matter and instructed that a transparent investigation be carried out.
“If the complaint is proven during the investigation, action should be taken against those responsible,” the PM was quoted as saying.
A day earlier, TIP had approached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), accusing SNGPL of failing to comply with PPRA regulations in a tender related to the procurement of air intake gas elements and pre-filter socks.
In a letter sent to relevant authorities, including the Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Tauqeer Shah and the Managing Director of SNGPL, TIP noted that the PPRA Review Board had already termed the procurement a “mis-procurement.” It added that further irregularities had been identified, requiring clarification from SNGPL.
The organisation raised several concerns, including why the tender was limited to foreign bidders only.
It also questioned how the complainant was declared non-responsive under clause 3.2(b), which applies specifically to information required from foreign bidders regarding their location and five-year experience.
Additionally, TIP pointed out that the complainant had submitted test reports for the filter paper used in manufacturing, which included the manufacturer’s identification number.
