Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cancels Rs8.92bn Khyber District project tenders
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Communication and Works department has cancelled tenders for 71 development projects worth Rs8.92 billion in Khyber District. Express News, citing sources, reported that the move followed kickback allegations.
- Tenders for 71 projects worth Rs8.92 billion were cancelled
- The C&W secretary issued the notification on 6 November
- Sources allege 5 to 10 percent advance kickbacks were collected
- An investigation into an alleged kickback network has begun
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has cancelled tenders for 71 development projects in Khyber District with a combined value of Rs8.92 billion, Express News (Urdu) reported. The Communication and Works (C&W) secretary issued a notification on 6 November cancelling the tenders.
According to Express News, the cancellation followed allegations of kickbacks in the way the tenders were awarded. Sources told the outlet that the Khyber District tenders issued during the PTI government in the province were allegedly handed out on a political basis.
The sources alleged that advance kickbacks of 5 to 10 percent were collected on contracts during the tenure of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. They said complaints put the amount of alleged kickbacks at Rs500 million to Rs900 million. These are allegations reported by sources and have not been independently confirmed in the reports.
On the Annual Development Programme, the sources said projects worth Rs5 billion in Khyber District were attributed to Naveed, described as a close aide of the Chief Minister. Projects worth Rs3.9 billion were attributed to MPA Abdul Ghani.
Authorities have started an investigation into an alleged corruption and kickback network in the district. Sources said the SDO of Bara, Ziaullah, was detained and questioned, and that he provided information about alleged kickbacks in the distribution of tenders.
Executive Engineer Riaz of C&W was also questioned, and two years of records were reviewed. According to the sources, the inquiry allegedly found kickbacks in two schemes linked to MPA Abdul Ghani and Naveed.
The C&W secretary had received an anonymous application asking for the Khyber District tenders to be cancelled. The reports do not include responses from the people named.
Why it matters for Pakistan
Development projects in Khyber District, worth Rs8.92 billion in cancelled tenders, now need to be retendered, which can delay public works that residents of the district depend on. Contractors who bid on the 71 projects are also affected by the cancellation. The reports do not say when new tenders will be issued.
