The Sports Board Punjab (SBP ) has issued a final show cause notice to the installer of the blue turf at the National Hockey Stadium for adopting delaying tactics in the execution of the project in due frame of time. The firm M/s Swallow International owned by Usman Afridi was given the task to lay the synthetic turf at the stadium which should have been laid by now but he has violated the terms of the deal from day one. However, the timely action of the SBP has not only saved the Punjab government of the losses of Rs 750 million but also saved the hockey facility from the installation of a poorly-manicured turf.
He was with clear directives on five counts on April 25th, 27th, 30th and then on May 4th and 8th asked to remove the shock pads, clean and asphalt the surface of the stadium but he failed to remove them and follow other work, is compelling the SBP for his continuous violations of the terms to declare Afridi and Swallow International a black-listed firm and take legal action. The Swallow International’s Muhammad Usman Afiridi has been asked to give reasons within three days as to why his work order should not be cancelled and further action is taken against him for violating the terms of the deal.
Afiridi was given the directives on March 31, 2012 to start the work as agreed but he first delayed the signing of the contract and instead started the work before bringing the signed stamp papers of agreement. At the time of the signing of the agreement with the SBP of laying the blue turf, Afridi agreed upon the removing of the existing synthetic turf, its shock pads and cleaning of the asphalt floor as per the instructions of the engineer-in-charge.
He also agreed to properly roll, stack and kept safe the existing turf but despite a number of calls he did not respond to the notices set aside the removing of the shock pads and cleaning of the asphalt floor. And then install the blue synthetic turf as approved by the FIH Global having a thickness of shock pads of 8-10 millimetres, pile height 12-14 mm, yarn weight should be at least 1700 grams per square metres and it should also be tufted as agreed. But till Tuesday, May 23, 2012, neither the shock pads were completely removed nor the surface was cleaned and floor was asphalted.
Afridi in his reply to one of the notices also admitted that he violated the terms and conditions. He was also asked to regularly visit the site and give his progress report every three days but he field to follow the instructions. Then on March 30, 2012, Afridi was asked as to why he did not remove the old shock pads. Afridi was on May 4 and 8, 2012 again asked to furnish his report but he again failed to follow instructions.
