A committee of the Punjab Assembly has ordered an inquiry into how a medicines contract for a government hospital was awarded to a local drug firm. The Public Accounts Committee-I, known as PAC-I, took up the matter after an audit report pointed to irregularities amounting to Rs145 million, a sum the report linked to the previous government's period in office.
What the audit report found
The audit report said the contract was given in breach of the rules to a company that lacked the experience needed to supply medicines. It also said the firm took a year to deliver supplies that were due within three months. These findings raise questions about the company's capacity and about the process that led to the award, but they do not by themselves prove wrongdoing by any person or firm.
Health Department's explanation rejected
During the committee's proceedings, the Health Department attributed the delay to the Covid-19 pandemic. PAC-I did not accept that reason. Members instead focused on whether the firm was eligible under procurement rules and why the delivery deadline was not enforced.
What the inquiry will examine
The inquiry officer has been directed to establish whether the company met the prescribed eligibility criteria and to identify the officials responsible for the irregularities. It will also look into alleged undue concessions given to the firm and how a company allegedly without the required experience secured the award. In short, the Punjab medicines contract review covers the firm's eligibility, the delay in supplies and the role of officials in procurement.
The inquiry is intended to determine the facts, fix responsibility and establish whether procurement rules were broken. At this stage the committee has only ordered the inquiry, and no final findings have been announced.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab Assembly ki Public Accounts Committee-I ne sarkari hospital ki dawaiyon ke contract mein Rs145 million ki be-zabtiyon ki inquiry ka hukm diya hai. Audit report ke mutabiq company ko contract dene ke tareeqay aur dawaiyon ki late supply par sawal uthaye gaye hain. Abhi kisi shakhs ya company ke khilaf jurm sabit nahi hua. Aam shehri ke liye yeh matlab hai ke sarkari dawaiyon ki kharid mein shafafiyat aur waqt par supply ki nigrani zaroori hai.
