German government funded “health infrastructure programme” in Azad Kashmir has run aground amid allegations of corruption. The 22 million euros project is aimed at reconstructing health facilities and providing medical equipment and technical training to health planners. Under the four-year programme which started in 2006, thee health facilities are to be reconstructed in the quake hit areas of Azad Kashmir.... These included Abass Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Muzaffarabad, District Hospital Bagh and Tehsil Hospital Kahutta in district bagh. The project is being implemented through Ageg- an international consultancy firm in co-ordination with the health department of Azad Kashmir. According to sources, the consultancy firm hired two contractors apparently in consultation with Executive Director of Abbas Instittute of Medical Sciences.One of the two contractors was awarded more than 10 million contract to reconstruct, retrofit and renovate maternity unit, intensive care unit, indoor cafeteria as part of rehabilitation programme.
The other was also awarded contract worth nearly ten million Pakistani rupees to reconstruct parking, waiting area, pedestrian walkways and ambulance passages. Curiously, these contracts were awarded without competitive bidding. Documents obtained by Kashmir Watch reveal that these two contractors were paid cash of nearly twenty million rupees for the work done by them, which, authorities say, is illegal under local law.
There is no record of any bank transaction for this amount.
And many question whether these contractors did the work. Sources say although the contractors have been paid all the money, they have yet not completed their job. A payment of 10 million rupees was made to one of the two contractors who was supposed to reconstruct parking and waiting areas, pedestrian walkway and passages for ambulances.
The work is still incomplete and that it is going on even today.
To the surprise of many, the contractor has already left Pakistan more than a month ago.
Ageg’s team leader Dr. Khalid Yaseen approved these payments after the Architect of Health Infrastructure programme- Touseef Anwar-and Executive Director of Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences-Dr Bashir-Ur-Rehman- confirmed in writing that the two contractors have completed their jobs. There is no date mentioned as to when the payments were approved or when the contractors received the payments.
In addition, there is no date mentioned as to when the request for payments or requisition for work was made. No one even bothered to get the work verified from the chief engineer works, who is responsible for the construction of all such government facilities.
The whole process is shrouded under a huge cloud of suspicion. Some state officials are also worried at the slow pace of reconstruction. They say that reconstruction of these facilities has not started even after two and a half year since the progamme was launched.
They also suggest that the whole issue needs to be probed to save this 22 million euro project.
People also demand that government of Azad Kashmir should also investigate how AIMS handled huge funding that it received from different donors in past.
The other was also awarded contract worth nearly ten million Pakistani rupees to reconstruct parking, waiting area, pedestrian walkways and ambulance passages. Curiously, these contracts were awarded without competitive bidding. Documents obtained by Kashmir Watch reveal that these two contractors were paid cash of nearly twenty million rupees for the work done by them, which, authorities say, is illegal under local law.
There is no record of any bank transaction for this amount.
And many question whether these contractors did the work. Sources say although the contractors have been paid all the money, they have yet not completed their job. A payment of 10 million rupees was made to one of the two contractors who was supposed to reconstruct parking and waiting areas, pedestrian walkway and passages for ambulances.
The work is still incomplete and that it is going on even today.
To the surprise of many, the contractor has already left Pakistan more than a month ago.
Ageg’s team leader Dr. Khalid Yaseen approved these payments after the Architect of Health Infrastructure programme- Touseef Anwar-and Executive Director of Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences-Dr Bashir-Ur-Rehman- confirmed in writing that the two contractors have completed their jobs. There is no date mentioned as to when the payments were approved or when the contractors received the payments.
In addition, there is no date mentioned as to when the request for payments or requisition for work was made. No one even bothered to get the work verified from the chief engineer works, who is responsible for the construction of all such government facilities.
The whole process is shrouded under a huge cloud of suspicion. Some state officials are also worried at the slow pace of reconstruction. They say that reconstruction of these facilities has not started even after two and a half year since the progamme was launched.
They also suggest that the whole issue needs to be probed to save this 22 million euro project.
People also demand that government of Azad Kashmir should also investigate how AIMS handled huge funding that it received from different donors in past.
[Muzaffarabad, March 25 Kashmir Watch Report]
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