By Rafiullah Mandokhail
ZHOB: A group of contractors and owners of the different construction companies continued their token hunger strike for the eighth consecutive day here in Zhob. The Contractors’ Association has expressed its anger over the alleged corruption and irregularities in Buildings and Roads (B&R) department.
Muhammad Zahid Mandokhail, Amanullah Mandokhail, Sheikh Mehmood Mandokhail, M.M Karim, Sheikh Asif Khan, Haji Fazal Din & Brothers, Malik Safar & Brothers, Engineer Nadeem & Co, Mandokhail Construction Fizza Group and Zhob Valley contractors while addressing a press conference alleged the officials including Executive Engineer of the B&R department for abusing of power and their involvement in the corruption and urged the authorities concerned to take notice of the irregularities and corruption in the department.
“Corruption rampant in government departments but the B&R office has become the centre of embezzlements and irregularities. On the other hand the concerned authorities have turned a blind eye to the rampant corruption,” they lamented. They alleged that XEN and clerical staff of the department has been involved in mal-practices and only blue eyed contractors are being entertained but the real and deserving contractors are being deprived of their due rights and pushed to the wall.
“The contractors pay millions of rupees taxes annually to the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) but the officials upload the tenders in the name of those who grease their palms,” they alleged.
The contractors demanded of the chief minister and concerned minister to prevent political interference in the office and take immediate notice of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules violations, moreover XEN and other staff should be transferred as soon as possible. If their demands were not met, they will expand their protest. The contractors warned.
