05-08-2010, 11:24 AM
A report published in a local newspaper on May 6 stated: “Exchequer may suffer a loss of Rs 40 billion on the purchase of 150 locomotives from the US.” What was even more shocking was the revelation that “this is in gross violation of the Public Procurement Rules 2004 of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), especially Rule No 4, 10, 20, 23(5), 24, 32, relating transparency, wide competition not restricting specifications to favour any particular bidder.” These are but a few of the irregularities pointed out in the report. This is economic terrorism - being inflicted on the people of Pakistan by a company as bad as a suicide bomber with the effects lasting longer, for this money will have to be repaid through the sweat of Pakistanis by future generations.
The people are on the streets facing power outages, and water shortages not to mention the cost of fuel.
The PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif is busy saying that he has no intention to destabilise the system and he wanted the incumbent set up to complete its term, while we - the people - are left to watch the multi-billion dollar mega scams unfold before us. The PML-N chief is quite content to allow this warped system to bleed our poor nation. Surely, it is the duty of the opposition to oppose such flagrant corruption, and to ensure that such robbery should not take place.
Perhaps, the Supreme Court can take notice of these violations of the Pakistan government’s laws.
The US administration should also be put to notice that these violations are in contravention of their own “corrupt practices Act”, and both General Electric and the EXIM bank could be held liable under this Act for such actions in the American courts.
The people are on the streets facing power outages, and water shortages not to mention the cost of fuel.
The PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif is busy saying that he has no intention to destabilise the system and he wanted the incumbent set up to complete its term, while we - the people - are left to watch the multi-billion dollar mega scams unfold before us. The PML-N chief is quite content to allow this warped system to bleed our poor nation. Surely, it is the duty of the opposition to oppose such flagrant corruption, and to ensure that such robbery should not take place.
Perhaps, the Supreme Court can take notice of these violations of the Pakistan government’s laws.
The US administration should also be put to notice that these violations are in contravention of their own “corrupt practices Act”, and both General Electric and the EXIM bank could be held liable under this Act for such actions in the American courts.