AGP points out irregularities in IHC building construction

ISLAMABAD: Serious irregularities have been revealed in the performance audit of Islamabad High Court building constructed on Shahra-e-Dastur Islamabad. The Auditor General of Pakistan has submitted the audit report to the National Assembly Secretariat.

The building was constructed by Pak PWD. The objective of the performance audit was to examine whether the construction planning was correct or not, and whether the resources were used efficiently.

In the executive summary of the report, it is said that due to change in the scope of the project and delay in completion, the cost and duration of the project increased. The cost rose to Rs2.614 billion.

According to the report, pre-shipment inspection of imported electrical, mechanical, heating and air conditioning system was not conducted and imported with no reason. Site test and rate analysis was not done. This amount is Rs1 billion. The revised building plan has not been approved by the CDA.

The cost of changes made in terms of the contract amounts to Rs1.381 billion. The report revealed Rs1 billion were paid without creating a detailed measurement book of the construction work. The audit report recommended a fact-finding inquiry be conducted to determine the cost and duration of the project.

It is also recommended the officers and consultants of the department be held responsible for not conducting pre-shipment inspection and rate analysis of imported electrical, mechanical, heating and air-conditioning systems.

The report said revised building plan should be get approved by CDA and re-fixation of rate be carried out accurately. The officers who have not made a detailed measurement book of construction work should also be identified.

According to the report, the PC-1 of the project was approved on September 23, 2014, fixing its cost at Rs2.852 billion. But this cost increased to Rs5 billion, it said.

The cost increased by 75.88 percent. For that reason, changes were made in the design of the building, the report found. The contractor was paid Rs1 billion more on the pretended reason of increase in prices. Departmental charges of Rs2.25 billion have not been collected from the contractor, the report said.

The report said Rs115 million were paid to the contractor on unreasonable rate, and a fine of Rs113 million not imposed on consultant for defective performance.