Corruption scandal worth billion of rupees unearthed in the National Highways Authority (NHA) as its Chairman Javed Ashraf Tarrar and General Manager Mukhtar Durrani allotted tenders worth Rs. 8.5 billion to blue-eyed persons and companies violating rules and regulations.
According to details, NHA sought applications from contractors for construction of highways on N-50 from Zohb to Mughalkot and on N-70 from Qila Saifuallah to Loralai under the China Economic Pakistan Corridor (CPEC). The total estimate cost of the two highways was about 8.5 billion rupees and several companies presented their bids for the project.
The NHA initially declared Maqbool Associates and Zarghoon JV as suitable for the contracts. However, the authority awarded the contract to Limic Construction Industry and Trade of China and Zahir Khan and Brothers violating PEPRA rules.
According to documents available with Online, the lowest bids were presented by Maqbool Associates and Zarghoon JV but the NHA awarded the contracts to Chinese company, causing financial loss to the national exchequer.
The corrupt officers of the NHA have made the CPEC controversial in the very start of the project.
Close sources of PM Nawaz Sharif told Online that the premier expressed annoyance over NHA officers and took strict notice of the corruption.
NHA termed the issue as sensitive and refused to comment but referred the matter to chairman.
