Saeed Ghani blames CM Sindh for procuring expensive furniture
Saeed Ghani blames CM Sindh for procuring expensive furniture
KARACHI (Dunya News) - Provincial Information Minister Saeed Ghani has blamed Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah over procurement of expensive furniture for the schools across the province.
Talking to media in Karachi, Sindh information minister Saeed Ghani said that it was reported in the media that the education department had spend several billion rupees for the purchase of furniture. He said that the contract was started during my tenure, adding a committee consisting of several important people was formed for the procurement of school furniture. The heads of various institutions including IBA Sukkur were made members of the committee.
He said that the committee had started a process in 2018, but the bids were rejected by the committee.
Minister said the bids fell far short of what committee had estimated. A letter was written to Transparency International on this whole issue. The committee canceled the tenders and re-tendered in 2019.
Saeed Ghani said that Sardar Shah remained the Minister of Education till August 2019. From August to February 2020, the Education Department remained with the Chief Minister of Sindh. In my time, big companies made bids, at that time the bids for benches were between Rs 21,000 and Rs 26,000.
He said that the procurement committee had discussed the basic principle of SIPRA, according to which it is necessary to procure good quality furniture. The Procurement Committee recommended the use of A1 grade sheesham wood (Indian rosewood).
He said that a gentleman went to the court in this regard, but the order given by the court was not conveyed to the department. He filed a contempt of court case. Justice Salahuddin Panhoor was informed by the Secretary Education that there was a stay order of the High Court.