KARACHI: The World Bank (WB) has completed the technical and financial evaluation of the Pakistan Ports master plan. The Ports and shipping ministry has anointed Admiral (Retd) Ahmed Hayat for the post of the project director for the study, Pakistan Today has learnt. His selection is under fire amid allegations of nepotism and doubts over the validity of his candidature.
The contract negotiations for the project would soon begin between the government and a consultant firm. The study is financed under the second trade and transport facilitation project and the procurement is still in process.
“The technical and financial evaluation stage has been completed and contract negotiations will soon start between the government and the consultant firm,” Shahzad Sharjeel, the senior external affairs officer of the WB told Pakistan Today.
Sharjeel added that Hayat is one among a number of candidates, who are being considered by the ports and shipping ministry. Ports and Shipping Director General Hasan Zaidi told Pakistan Today that the name of the director has not been approved yet as there are between eight to ten candidates who have been short-listed for the post.
But the sources said that three people were nominated for the post including the Former Chairman of the Port Qasim Authority, Admiral (Retd) Asad Qureshi, but the ministry has virtually selected Hayat for the position and did not even disclose the job opening through use of advertisements placed the media.
Highlighting serious concerns of his candidature, Hayat does not have any experience relevant to commercial shipping, as he was working in the supply line of the Pakistan Navy that has nothing to do with the requirements of the said post.
According to the WB, all procurement of goods and services under WB-supported projects is undertaken by the authority involved with implementation, i.e., the concerned ministry or department responsible for the implementation.
Since the implementation is at the discretion of the ministry concerned, the appointment of consultants and director would be determined on the basis of nepotism and cronyism, the sources said.
Sources have forcefully highlighted the responsibility of the WB, the funding agency, to act as a watchdog to ensure transparency and quality because this funding is not a grant and it has to be paid back. Advertisements must be placed for the post of the director and the consultant firm. The director project must hold academic qualification in ports management and experience of international port operations.
