• Panel formed to investigate corruption, ghost tendering, collusive practices in award of contracts
• Joint venture awarded contract despite past disqualification for non-performance
• Senate committee gives NHA two days to provide documents or face contract cancellation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has suspended eight senior officials of the National Highway Authority (NHA) and formed a high level inquiry committee to probe into glaring irregularities, mala fide intension, ghost tendering, collusive practices and alleged corrupt practices in award of Rs170 billion international road project under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Tranche-III.

Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Com­mi­ttee on Economic Affairs Division (EAD), in its meeting on Monday, gave a two-day deadline to the NHA to clarify its position through documentary evidence demonstrating transparency in the award of the contract. Failing that, the committee recommended cancellation of the contract and disqualification of the successful joint venture (JV).

The committee questioned how the PM’s inquiry committee would reach a decision, given that the NHA had failed to provide relevant documents to the Senate committee for........

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