Rs 1b misappropriation found in laptop scheme

By
anjum
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23
289

Embezzlement on a large scale has been revealed in the purchase of laptops and their distribution on political basis by the Punjab government. Moreover, it spent billions of rupees on advertisements in the media and arranging ceremonies in this regard. The Punjab government distributed these laptops among the workers of MSF and on political grounds rather than giving computers to deserving and toppers.
After revelation of irregularities by the Punjab government in laptop scheme, the teachers and intellectual segment of the society demanded a detailed audit from international reputed firms. They also asked the apex judiciary to take immediate action for wasting the national exchequer.
According to the media report, each computer was procured for Rs 19,500, but the price was shown in documentation as Rs 37,700, which is almost two times more than the actual cost. It has also been revealed that these computers were purchased from China under the mark of an international firm ‘Dell’. There is a lot of difference in branded computers made by the firm and those which were imported from China.
The report said that the RAM in original laptops is 4GB whereas computers distributed by the Punjab government are only 2 GB. Similarly, the original computer has the monitor of 15.6 inches whereas these have the monitor of 14 inches. Moreover, the windows have been installed in these computers without any authenticity.
JI asks Gilani to quit: Ameer Jamat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hasan said Wednesday that Gilanai is no more Prime Minister after conviction so it would be better for him to leave the office forthwith.
He was speaking to the session of National Youth Assembly. He said that the appropriate place for the law offender is jail not PM House. The nation can not accept Gilani as Prime Minister anymore. To a question he said that Nawaz Sharif gave a statement to coordinate religious and political parties to start a campaign against convicted Gillani, but even after lapse of three days , he has not yet contacted JI regarding any movement against the violation of constitution. “We would evolve future strategy, when Sharif would ask us”, he added.
Talking on Liyari operation he said that President Zardari started this operation in his own constituency on the wishes of Mutahida Qaumi Movement as it wants to continue target killing and unpleasant circumstances in Karachi. He said that Baloch people are real affectees of the operation and there is strong need of water and edibles for local population who are cordoned off by the police and facing live threats due to cross firing. He opined that consequences of the operation would be harmful and help create resentment among Balochs nation. The Baloch people already facing worsen circumstances in Balochistan and now government is creating hurdles for them in Karachi.

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23 COMMENTS

  1. 18th April 2012

    Mr. Javaid Aslam,

    Chairman P&D Board / Ex-Officio Project Manager,

    I.T. Labs Project,

    Government of Punjab,

    Lahore

    Sub; Clarification of Chairman P&D Board on the allegation of Violation of Punjab Procurement Rules, 2009 in procurement 110,000 laptops by the Punjab government.

    Dear Sir,

    Transparency International Pakistan has examined your reply recied on 17th April 2012 to the allegation have been reported in print media to TI Pakistan’s letter sent to Secretary, Planning & Development Department for comments/clarification on 6 April 2012.

    At the outset, TI Pakistan world like to inform you that article 19-A makes the right to access of information pertaining to a public authority a fundamental right. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah in his landmark judgment Ataullah Malik v. Federation of Pakistan laid down the following:

    “Right to information is another corrective tool which allows public access to the working and decision making of the public authorities. It opens the working of public administration to public scrutiny. This necessitates transparent and structured exercise of discretion by the public functionaries. Article 19-A empowers the civil society of this country to seek information from public institutions and hold them answerable”. PLD 2010 Lahore 605

    According to your statements in the letter, the procedure used in this procurement is summarized below;

    1. That for the procurement of 110,000 laptops a transparent procedure was followed as per Punjab Procurement Rules 2009, the final purchase cost of Rs 37,700 per laptop was much below the market cost.

    2. That this price is inclusive of a backpack, air shipping, pre-shipment inspection, extended warranty for a period of 15 months, storage and inland transportation charges and delivery to educational institutions throughout Punjab,

    3. That the bid documents were issued to all interested firms, which included detailed terms and conditions, specifications and evaluation criteria, in accordance with Rule 23,

    4. That according to the bid document, the procurement was to be undertaken through establishing LC at-sight, which meant that payment will be made immediately on delivery. However, during finalizing the mode of payment, the firm offered to establish a Letter of Credit for 30 days.

    5. That under this arrangement, the supplier is offering a 30 days credit to Government of Punjab, even after delivery of laptops as the payments are being made 30 days after

    presentation of documents by the supplier firm to the bank, after the goods have been received by the purchaser,

    6. That the specifications in tender were exactly the same as the product procured and Core i3 or i5 chipsets were never mentioned in the bid documents. Bid document is also attached for perusal.

    7. That a 15 months parts warranty, against the industry norm of 12 months, inclusive of battery is provided for all laptops.

    8. That a copy of Contract under NAO 33B has already been sent to NAB by the Higher Education Department.

    Based on the above clarification given by the Chairman P&D Board / Ex-Officio Project Manager, in accordance with the specifications and evaluation criteria included in the tender documents, the procedure as prescribed by Punjab Procurement Rules, 2009 has been adopted, and the allegations reported in the news report dated 6 April 2012 prima facie does not appears to be correct.

    TI Pakistan appreciates your detailed response to its letter dated 6 April 2012, and request you to please continue to follow Punjab Procurement Rules, 2009 in all procurements in your department which will result in awards of all contracts to lowest evaluated the responsive bid.

    TI Pakistan is striving for the Rule of Law in Pakistan, which is the only way to eliminate corruption and have good governance in the country.

    With Regards,

    Syed Adil Gilani
    Adviser,

    Copy forwarded for information of;

    1. Chief Minister, Punjab, Lahore.
    2. Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, Lahore.
    3. Managing Director, PPRA Punjab, Lahore–

  3. Afsos.. Sud afsoos…. Her jaga siyasay – her jaga lootmar.. Koi jaga to chordo… Laghta hay is tenure mein sab hakoomati jamaatoun ka muqabla hay lootnay ka or aik doosray ki corruption chupanay ka….. Wah Zardari — Wah Sharif….

  4. i have a few friends who have no political affiliation but they got the note book…. and yes the whole matter should be investigated and the people responsible should be prosecuted in the courts..

  5. Means Mubasher Lucman, A Qadiani’s report is true and Ttansparency International’s report is wrong?? Siyasi Mukhalfat mein Pakistan Today hadd se na guzray.

  6. lakhs of laptops have been distributed up till now so what this report means that lakhs of students are members of msf . Today I came to know that pml n has such a large student wing thats great for pml n and by the way if anyone has problem with distribution of laptops includes lucman, hasan nisar ,teachers,intellectual segment or anyone else including pml n opponents then they should go to supreme court to test pml n and pml n will inshallah pass that test successfully and whoever gets the laptops he or she will have access to the knowldge world and get an opportunity to contribute for well being of pakistan as rifles are not being distributed laptops are being distributed.Mian nawaz sharif zindabad

  7. PML_n supporters are the worst ppl..At least say that corrupt ppl involved in this scam should be punished but u ppl are just raising slogans in favor of ur party without bothering abt corruption,,

  8. We knew Peoples who do not have any political affiliation but have these machines under this scheme. Luqman is quite politicized figure in Media. Investigation should be done.

    • Obviously not all are handed over politically but so many are…Secondly fiancial corruption is pretty straight forward here..

  9. Adil Gillani is freinds with Shehbaz Sharif..For God sake see the proofs urself..WHt kind of a sick mentality is this of SHarif's supporters that PML-N cant do anythng wrong

    • Abdullah do you have any proof of Freindship of SS – A Gillani. You know A Gillani is very sensitive about the image if TI and he can sue you for maligning TI.

  10. Lucman have great support for PTI you can watch his twitter account also.
    He also said that the medicines were produced in Rawalpindi by by PMLN MNA.
    But actually the medicines which were reported bad were from karachi. In the previous scandal.
    I am not a supporter of PML n in fact i am from karachi but
    I can not believe Lucman because i am a follower of him on twitter and every day he brings a new pathetic story . He is a cheater and a former minister of Musharaf cabinet.

  11. Transparency International has given a clean chit to Punjab Govt after carrying out investigations. Everybody knows that Luqman, was a key supporter of Mush and a member of his cabinet with a known bias for PML(N) and soft corner for MQM

  13. Transparency International is just an NGO and is not an investigative agency. They deal in documents only. Who say corruption cannot be done by following rules? The corruption can very well be done even after following all the rules and procedures. As per Procurement Procedures, the tender must be published in newspaper and bids are invited. And purchase order is issued to lowest bidder. What if the advertisment was published in infamous newspaper or there was vague advertisment? What if these bids were filled by your friends? Of course, the lowest bidder will be one of them. Result: The purchase will be clean with no proof of corruption.

  14. pakistan today should confirm these type reports and then publish it, they are violating the pemra rules and i think they should have been sued for that kind of shameful act because neither the Punjab High Court nor Supreme Courte prove that thing.

  15. beshak shehbaaaz sharif sahab ne laptop diye haien par aik formal way pe nai im the student of commerce college bahawalpur and im eligible for laptop lakin inho ne jisko chaha diya kon kitni mehnat se parhta hai kis k parents kitni mushkilo se apny bacho ko parha rahy haien jb wo chahty hain k hamy bhi laptop mily takay hamary parents khush houn k han ji humne jo mehnat se kamaya wo lagaya tabhi hamary bacchy is able hoay k unhein laptop mila ak alag hi khushi hoti hai gift ki par …..
    Allah nighybaan hai chief Minister sahab par Alllah ki rehmat ho k wo commerce college ko bhi laptop ki distribution main shamil kareyn jald az jald AMeen

  16. 1 BILLION IRREGULARITIES AND MORE MONEY SPENT ON THE CAMPAIGNING AND MARKETING THEN ON THE SCHEME

    OMG EVEN UNAUTHENTICATED WINDOWS LOLLLLLLLLL ROFL THATS ILLEGAL!!!!!!!! THEY JUST KEEP ADDING TO THEIR POCKETS FOOKING PAKISTANI POLITICIANS!

  17. OH AND BY THE WAY MUSHARRAF WARNED US OF CORRUPT CJP AND CORRUPT NAWAZ SHARIF BUT YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN!

    LOOK AT YOU NOW!, STAMPED THE WHOLE COUNTRY INTO STONE AGE STUPID DEMOCRACY LOVERS, ANY MILITARY RULER DID A BETTER JOB THEN AN ELECTED ONE

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