Transparency International Pakistan has formally approached the Director General of the Pakistan Airports Authority over alleged irregularities in the award of the Rs. 20 billion e-gate project for major airports.
In a letter dated April 27, the organization said it received a complaint claiming the contract was granted without open bidding and through the alleged misuse of PPRA Rule 42(f), which allows direct procurement only under specific conditions.
According to the complaint, the Pakistan Airports Authority awarded the project to a preselected group instead of conducting a transparent competitive bidding process as required under the Public Procurement Rules 2004.
The letter further claimed that Rule 42(f) was invoked despite the authority reportedly lacking the internal technology, expertise, and operational capacity needed to independently execute such a large-scale project.
Transparency International Pakistan stated that, at first review, the allegations appeared serious and could potentially amount to mis-procurement if proven under relevant PPRA regulations.
The watchdog also raised concerns over the reported absence of mandatory procurement documents on the PPRA website, including the evaluation report and final contract agreement. Additional questions were raised regarding beneficial ownership disclosures, price benchmarking, and compliance with performance bond requirements.
Among the most significant allegations, the complaint claimed the project was awarded at nearly double the market price, suggesting that penalties under integrity pact rules could apply if any violations are confirmed.
Transparency International Pakistan urged the Airports Authority to investigate the matter and ensure the project is re-tendered through an open and lawful competitive process.
The organization clarified that it is not the original complainant but is acting in a whistleblower capacity under Article 19-A of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to information regarding public institutions.
Copies of the letter were also sent to several key offices, including the Prime Minister’s adviser, Ministry of Defence, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, NAB, FIA, and the Registrar of the Supreme Court for action within their respective jurisdictions.
