LAHORE (January 08 2004): Out of total 14 firms, which participated in international tender for import of 150,000 metric tonnes of wheat, only seven had fulfilled all the necessary conditions. Out of these seven firms, three had given quotations for Indian wheat, while the remaining four had quoted for USA soft white wheat and Australian white wheat.

Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Supply Corporation (Passco) had invited international tender for the procurement of 150,000 metric tonnes of wheat, which was opened at its head office here on Tuesday. General Manager Passco, Major (Retd) Muhammad Akram, Wheat Commissioner Qadir Bakhsh Baloch, Joint Secretary Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Chaudhry Akram and representatives of food departments of Sindh and NWFP were present on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that bids were invited for soft white and medium hard wheat on cost and freight (C&F) Port Qasim basis, whereas no restriction of country of origin was made. However, conditions of compliance of quarantine regulations and being free from karnal bunt diseases etc, were emphasised.

Out of the seven Proper bidders, three quoted Indian wheat without guarantee of free from karnal bunt disease. Out of remaining four, two firms each quoted for USA soft white wheat and Australian white wheat. Besides, all the responsive bidders fulfilled conditions of specification and terms and conditions, which were partly at variance to the tendering conditions.

The firms which joined the tendering process included Younas Brothers, Transocean Asia (Pvt) Limited, Anza Trade, Alam and Alam, Pacific Chartering and Trading (Pvt) Limited, Meshe International, Concordia, United Harvest, Tradesman International, Walker Trading Corporation, Surview (Pvt) Limited, Ardent Trading, BSA Incorporation and United Resource Corporation.

Younas Brothers quoted rate of US 251.50 per metric ton for supply of 50,000 metric tonnes of US white wheat. Meshe International quoted US $214 to 218.50 for the entire quantity of 150,000 metric tonnes.

Concordia had given quotation of US $185 per metric ton for a quantity of 25,000 metric tonnes of Indian wheat.

Tradesman International quoted its rate of US $224.75 per metric ton for USA and Australian white wheat while United Resource Corporation gave its quotation of US $222.75 per metric ton for a quantity of 40,000 metric tonnes.

The other two firms, which had given quotations for Indian wheat, included Ardent Trading and BSA Incorporation. Ardent Trading quoted US $192 per metric ton for the supply of 25,000 metric tonnes wheat while BSA Incorporation gave its bid of US $198 per metric ton for the quantity of 50,000 metric tonnes.

Official sources while talking to Business Recorder ruled out any possibility of acceptance of offers of the bidders for wheat import from India due to presence of karnal bunt diseases.

General Manager Passco said that all the quotations received were reviewed in a meeting held here on Wednesday, and a comparative statement has been prepared for onward submission to the Cabinet Committee for its final approval.

Major Muhammad Akram (Retd) said that Passco has taken all necessary measures to ensure transparency in the tendering process.

To a question regarding setting the specification of the wheat, he said that Passco is not concerned with the laying down specification of wheat and import terms and conditions, which is the preserve of the ECC. He maintained that Passco is just a designated agency to implement the decisions of higher authorities.

The bidding of firms failing to present tender documents, as per conditions laid down in the advertisement, would be automatically rejected.

The tenders were floated on December 24, 2003 while wheat is required to reach Pakistan by February 15, 2004. Despite the country having sufficient wheat stocks, it is being imported to check artificial shortage, he maintained.

Courtesy Business Recorder