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Punjab Governor Probes Cancellation of Rs1.5 Billion Tender at University of Sahiwal
Punjab Governor steps in! Cancellation of Rs1.5 billion UOS tender sparks allegations of irregularities and violations of procurement rules. Investigations underway.
ND
by News Desk
2024-11-19
Punjab Governor Probes Cancellation of Rs1.5 Billion Tender at University of Sahiwal

Punjab Governor and Chancellor of the University of Sahiwal (UOS), Sardar Saleem Hyder Khan, has initiated an inquiry into the abrupt reversal, rollback, and annulment of a Rs1.5 billion tender for development projects at UOS.

The original tender, awarded in 2022 to M/s Indigo Developers (PVT) Limited after adhering to Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules, was canceled without notice. The governor has sought the complete record to understand the reasons behind the decision.

Reports indicate that the tender was divided into three sub-contracts and re-awarded to M/s STC Engineering & Contractors (PVT) Limited, which was disqualified in the initial bidding process.

Timeline of Events:

  • October 19, 2022: UOS invited bids for Rs1,100 million development projects from C1 category firms.
  • November 22, 2022: Indigo Developers won the bid for offering the “lowest price.”
  • November 29, 2022: The award was posted on the PPRA website, and Indigo was instructed to deposit Rs25 million to receive the work order.
  • December 9, 2022: Indigo’s deadline for the work order passed without issuance.
  • December 23, 2022: UOS canceled the tender, citing errors in the evaluation process under PPRA Rule 35(1).

Allegations and Defenses:

Indigo Developers’ CEO Fazeel Ahmed has called the cancellation illegal, accusing UOS of violating PPRA rules to favor STC. Ahmed alleged ulterior motives behind the decision, claiming his firm was unfairly penalized despite receiving the highest technical evaluation score.

UOS defended its actions, with Media Spokesperson Dr. Ayub asserting that the reallocation followed PPRA rules and aimed to ensure transparency by splitting the project into smaller contracts. Dr. Ayub dismissed allegations of misconduct as baseless propaganda.

Governor’s Response:

The governor has ordered a detailed review of the tendering process, including the roles of university officials and the evaluation committee. He has assured stakeholders of a transparent investigation and accountability where violations are found.

This controversy underscores the importance of upholding procurement rules and maintaining trust in public institutions handling multimillion-rupee projects.
Tagged:

Transparency

PunjabNews

UniversityDevelopment

TenderControversy

ProcurementRules

PublicAccountability
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