Environmental project set to gain momentum

Islamabad:The Developing Resilient Environment and Advancing Municipal Services project, a flagship initiative jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Punjab, is poised to gain renewed momentum after the removal of a major procedural hurdle.

The Local Government and Community Development Department has officially dismissed a plea challenging the legitimacy of the Joint Venture involved in a key contract-paving the way for the project’s progression, says a news release.

Launched in November 2024, the DREAMS project aims to revolutionise municipal services and urban infrastructure across Punjab. Designed in accordance with international best practices and governed by the Asian Development Bank’s Project Administration Manual, the project incorporates robust frameworks for procurement, funding, and oversight to ensure transparency and efficiency. The project besides many other advantages will provide an integrated water supply system based on Chahan Dam for Rawalpindi and augmentation of water supply for Rawalpindi.

Despite its strong foundations, the project recently faced delays due to procurement-related disputes. Central to the controversy was a contract awarded to a Turkish bidder-initially in partnership with a local company. The joint venture was dissolved amicably and in accordance with the project’s contractual framework under FIDIC guidelines. However, objections from the City Implementation Team temporarily stalled progress.

Despite these challenges, the Asian Development Bank remained steadfast in its role and issued a no objection letter confirming that the procurement process adhered to its stringent protocols and that all necessary formalities were completed before the contract awards. To reinforce transparency and ensure due diligence, the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team conducted an exhaustive review of the bidding process.

The findings confirmed full compliance with ADB’s procedures, validating the evaluation of the lowest qualified bidder and affirming the legitimacy of the contested contracts. CMIT’s report has now been forwarded to the Planning and Development Board with a strong recommendation for the Steering Committee to formally endorse the project’s continuation at its upcoming session.

Officials at CMIT emphasised that with these hurdles now largely behind it, the DREAMS project was set to resume full-scale operations.Stakeholders anticipate that the project will now proceed with greater focus and unity, fulfilling its core mission of improving urban infrastructure, enhancing municipal services, and uplifting living standards for communities across Punjab.