Daily Times

Rejecting the process for award of Mohmand Dam contract, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif Friday demanded of the Lower House speaker to announce formation of a parliamentary committee to probe the matter.

He lambasted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government for awarding the dam contract to a joint venture comprising a Chinese firm and the Descon, a Pakistani form reportedly owned by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood. “Though I have no personal grudge with Abdul Razak Dawood, but Rs 309 billion of public money is being doled out blindfolded,” Shehbaz said while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly. “The Rs 309 billion dam contract is being awarded on a single bid. This is injustice and totally against the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules,” he lamented.

Shehbaz demanded a parliamentary probe into the matter, saying the contract involved public money and thus they reserved the right to be kept in the know about it. He questioned why the government couldn’t invite bids afresh following the single bid and called on the government to conduct the bidding process again as per the relevant rules. He further demanded that a report be prepared on the matter and presented in the House.

Shehbaz termed the removal of names of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah from the exit control list (ECL) a ‘good omen’. He said that the government realized very late that the Supreme Court (SC) verdict could not be ignored.

Meanwhile, the Lower House was informed that the government has decided to forcefully raise the Kashmir dispute as a humanitarian issue at the international level in order to unmask Indian abuses in the occupied territory. Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbass told the House during question hour that Kashmir solidarity day on February 5 would be observed this year not only in Pakistan but also abroad including London. “We have also invited the OIC to organize a conference on Kashmir in Islamabad or at any other place to highlight the plight of the oppressed people of Kashmir,” she said, adding that international activists including a delegation of British MPs have compiled their stories and reports on gross human rights violations in the occupied valley.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding that all the drought-stricken districts of Balochistan be declared as calamity affected. The resolution was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

Responding to a calling attention notice regarding the grievances of farmers for not timely exporting vegetables and fruits, Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Shandana Gulzar Khan said the federal government was holding negotiations with Punjab government to provide relief to the potato farmers. She said there has been a surplus production of potato this year and steps would be taken to protect the interest of the farmers.

The National Assembly also adopted a motion authorizing the speaker to constitute a committee of parliamentary leaders to regulate the conduct of members.

Later the house was adjourned to meet again on Monday at 5:00 pm.

Published in Daily Times, January 19^th 2019.