ISLAMABAD: The federal government has stopped funding of the Apex chamber, following the corruption allegations of Rs 250 million in construction of FPCCI Capital Office building and ordered National Accountability Bureau to investigate the matter.
After getting evidence of corruption from Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) former vice president Mirza Abdul Rehman, the Federal Secretary Commerce has barred TDAP from releasing Rs 50 million approved for FPCCI and directed its Chief Executive S.M Muneer to launch an investigation.
Mr. Muneer has formed an investigation committee but its impartiality is questionable as the incumbent president of the FPCCI Zakria Usman is a member of the said committee despite being under allegations.
Mirza Abdul Rehman has also provided evidence to the National Accountability Bureau which has launched a separate investigation into the issue.
The applications forwarded by the FPCCI vice president stated that Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President of the SAARC chamber and Co-Chairman Businessman Panel of the FPCCI has allotted contracts of consultancy and architecture to a relative Zaheer A. Sheikh while contract for construction the building was awarded to his another kin Akbar Sheikh.
Mr. Zaheer was paid Rs 13.5 million illegally, mostly in advance, who designed a 12-storey building violating CDA laws and used substandard material for construction which resulted in Rs 30 million in repairs and remoulding after construction.
Surprisingly, architect, consultant and contractor were not fined or asked for a clarification; rather they continued to get payments from the FPCCI.
Moreover, Mirza Abdul Rehman said in his application that contract for air-conditioning was given to the highest bidder prompting legal action by another company which was ready to do the same job for Rs 3.5 million lesser price.
“Despite the massive plunder no one was held responsible instead the leaders of Businessman Panel of the FPCCI awarded SAARC Chamber vice president Iftikhar Ali Malik chairmanship of the SAARC Chamber building committee”, he added.
Mirza Abdul Rehman alleged that the contract, design and consultancy for the SAARC building was being awarded to the same people who were responsible for the mess in the construction of FPCCI Islamabad building.
When contacted, FPCCI Capital Office deputy secretary said that construction was supervised by elected representatives and all the payments were done by head office to which staff has nothing to do.
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