By Saima Baloch
KARACHI: The Project Director of the Malir Expressway, Niaz Soomro, has refuted claims by Transparency International regarding non-compliance with SEPA regulations in the construction of the Malir Expressway, calling them completely baseless. In a written response to Transparency International’s trustee/legal advisor, Advocate Daniyal Muzaffar, the Project Director stated that the procurement for the Malir Expressway project was conducted under the International SPP Rules 2010.
Soomro explained that after fulfilling all legal requirements, the successful companies were awarded the project. He detailed that according to the bidding documents, bidders needed to meet eligibility criteria including tax authority registration. Advertisements were placed in both local and international newspapers, resulting in three proposals. The consortium led by M/s J.N. & Co., along with M/s Niaz Muhammad Khan & Brothers and Habib Construction Services Ltd., submitted bids that were reviewed by the Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee (TFEC).
The committee found all bids to be compliant with the standards and requirements outlined in the bidding documents. He emphasized that M/s J.N. & Co. Consortium submitted all necessary documents, including registration details, evidenced by FBR certificate reference number 1758771-9, demonstrating their involvement since November 5, 2003. The consortium was proposed and awarded as the best bid, in accordance with SPP Rules, 2010.
Furthermore, after the award of the procurement contract and in compliance with the bidding document requirements (Section 1.6.7), the preferred/successful bidder, led by M/s J.N. & Co. in collaboration with M/s Niaz Muhammad Khan & Brothers and Habib Construction Services Ltd., was incorporated into a local company named ‘Malir Expressway (Private) Limited,’ with registration number 0148475 dated March 2, 2020. A concession agreement with M/s Malir Expressway (Private) Limited was executed on April 21, 2020. Soomro clarified that the company mentioned in Transparency International’s letter, M/s J.N. Construction Company (Private) Limited, is a separate entity that neither participated in the bidding process nor was awarded the procurement contract.
He suggested that the anonymous complainant appears to lack understanding of the project procurement process and seems intent on damaging the government’s reputation and sabotaging the project with unfounded allegations. The Project Director urged Transparency International Pakistan to address the baseless allegations against the Malir Expressway project and its procurement process. The department remains committed to transparency and is ready to clarify any genuine questions or concerns related to the project.
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