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Tractors
purchase scam unearthed in MINFAL
ISLAMABAD-Audit Department has
pointed out a scam of tractors' purchase for Federal Water
Management Cell (FWMC) of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture
and Livestock (MINFAL), which caused a loss of Rs 34.158
million to public exchequer.
According to Audit Report submitted to Ad-hoc Federal Public
Accounts Committee, Federal Management Cell purchased heavy
and medium size tractors for a project and this deal caused a
loss of millions of rupees.
Public Accounts Committee has ordered an inquiry and
constituted a sub-committee for this purpose after reviewing
paras of special audit reports for the years 1993-97. A
three-member sub-committee, headed by Lt-Gen (retd) Talat
Masood, to investigate the case and submit a report to
Chairman, H.U.Beg. The other members of the committee are
Mujahid Eshai and Muzaffar Ahmad.
According to report, 59 Chinese-made tractors were purchased
by FWMC, through Trade Communication, reportedly owned by the
son of a retired director-general of the Cell, Dr. Baaz
Mohammad.
It said the Federal Water Management Cell purchased 28 heavy
wheel type and 31 medium-size Chinese tractors from ABI, US,
at a cost of Rs34.158 million.
The evaluation sub-committee had only one assistant water
management engineer and the rest of the members were non-
technical. The name of foreign consultant appointed for the
purpose was not disclosed.
The offers were not according to specifications and
under-powered tractors were purchased during December 1995 to
July 1996.
Moreover, spare parts and after-sale-service for the tractors
were not available in Pakistan and the equipment could not be
used during the term of the project.
The tractors were used only after the arrival of Chinese
technicians in October 1997.
An international tender was floated and contract was awarded
to ABI on the recommendations of the committee and with the
approval of principal accounting officer as well as donor.
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