Daily Times

KARACHI: Initial estimated cost of Rs 7 million for renovation work of 40 washrooms at Civic Centre has costed Karachi Development Authority and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to Rs 20 million on pretext of tug of war between these two civic entities.

Escalation in this project cost by Rs 13.6 million has been the act of KMC that had hired the same contractor for repair work at KMC main building, Zahid Hussain, Executive Engineer Building KDA has revealed.

Zahid also informed that the use of district Annual Development Programme 2016-17 (ADP) fund in this way has been a sheer violation of Contract Management rules of the Department.

He said an inquiry into this matter and against officials involved in this financial irregularity should be initiated to bring them to book.

Arif, an official of Contract Management KDA has informed that he had, after complete and detailed deliberation of contract with an estimated cost of Rs 7 million for the repair of 40 washrooms had submitted the papers to KDA higher ups for final decision.

Nayyab Saeed, Accounts Officer Engineering Department KMC has also confirmed that payment of Rs 20.6 million has been made in the favour of contractor.

However, contractor Salim Lamba started that repairing work of Civic Centre washrooms but he completed job of three washrooms only and before the entire work to be completed, he was paid Rs 20.6 million by both the entities on sharing basis.

Representatives of Karachi Contractors Association (KCA) have informed that this has been the first case of financial corruption after the restoration of KDA.

KMC has paid Rs 13.6 million while KDA cleared the remaining bill of contractor of Rs 7 million, members of KCA said.

“Only three bathrooms of first and second floor have been repaired out of a contract of 40 bathrooms in 10 storey building and four annexes buildings”, alleged KCA. The tender had been floated and given to contractor by Engineering Department KMC, they added.

It is also highlighted by the KCA that KMC had also used ADP funds for other purposes.

A large number of clients for their matters relating to KDA visit Civic Centre on daily basis. This unfinished job of bathrooms repair would painful for them, they opined.