MBP accord should be made public:Raja Basharat

Lahore: Pakistan Muslim League Senior Vice-President and Advisor to the Prime Minister on industry Muhammad Basharat Raja has demanded that copies of agreement between Punjab Govt and Transparency International and Terms of Reference regarding corruption in Jangla Bus, approval of the project by ECNEC, tenders and all relevant documents be provided in seven days, agreement with buses operating Albaraq Company should also be made public.

Addressing a crowded press conference along with Nasir Mahmud Gill and Mian Muhammad Munir at the State Guest House here today, he put 13 questions in response to the letter of the Transparency International Pakistan and expressed the hope that attempt of the Punjab Govt to get a clean chit despite so many loot, plunder and corruption would fail. He said that the announcement by the “Khadam-e-A’ala” while inaugurating the project to get back cost of the project in four and half years is a white lie because under the accord, Punjab Govt is bound to give subsidy of Rs 2. 25 crore daily burden of which entirely rests on the people of Punjab as the govt pays rent of Rs 360 per kilometer to Albaraq Company whereas as compared to this income is very low besides 27 stops, staff and other expenditure.

He also pointed out that increase in petrol expenses of the residents of localities on Ferozepur Road are additional burden on them but the people are being cheated through advertisements about this super flop project. Pointing out contradictions in the letter of Transparency International, Muhammad Basharat Raja said PML leaders are pointing right from the first day corruption, loot and plunder and legal la cunae in the projects started by Punjab Govt for political objectives including faulty projects like lap top and ujala programme as well as Sasti Roti, Food Support Programme, Green Tractor Scheme, Yellow Cab Scheme, Ashiana Housing Scheme. He said in the letter has given details of MOUs and Terms of References signed with some Federal Ministries whereas no information has been provided regarding MOU signed with Punjab Govt and the Terms of Reference.

He said that Punjab Govt has not made any document about any project, we hope that Punjab Govt would have also provided to Transparency International Pakistan after signing MOU which should also be provided to us. He further said which institution had prepared feasibility report of Metro Bus project and what is its international repute, why no PC-I of the project has so far been made public, , we should be provided copies of all PC-Is of the project and EIA report, total cost of the project should be told and also how much funds were allocated for it in the budget and from which source additional amount was got because according to our information hundreds of ongoing projects were stopped and their funds were transferred to Metro Bus.

Muhammad Basharat Raja said that all relevant information about pre-qualification of construction companies along with documents, procurements tenders and advertisements details as well as names of the construction companies awarded contract of Metro track. Continuing, he said according to Chief Engineer LDA, TEPA, project total cost is Rs 29 billion as such copies of the approval of ECNEC be provided as ECNEC approval of every project costing more than Rs 6 billion is legal requirement, copy of the study of acquisition of costly commercial land along the bus track was undertaken by which institution its copy should be provided along with number of affected persons who were paid how compensation because reports of serious irregularities have also surfaced in this regard, payments for Metro Bus and other projects were made out of more than one account, reasons for opening of such large number of accounts despite reservations expressed by the Accountant General Punjab should be stated, iron was mostly item used in Metro bus track and why it was included in the list of non-scheduled items, purchases of crores of rupees were made under which regulation and procedure and list of non-scheduled items of the project should be given and the Metro bus comprehensive project be made public.

Muhammad Basharat Raja said in the conclusion that after signing of the MOU with Punjab Govt, Transparency International Pakistan is surely in a position to acquire record and it should also be told as to what acti0n it can take against Punjab Govt after getting evidence about its corruption?