ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textiles, and Industries Abdul Razak had dissociated himself from all his business ventures before joining the federal cabinet of the present government, a statement issued by the office of the advisor today said.
“On joining the cabinet, the advisor has totally distanced himself from his former business interests and has scrupulously observed and implemented all requirements of transparency and avoidance of conflict of interest,” the statement said.
Referring to the news items related to the award of contract of Mohmand dam project, the statement said Abdul Razaq Dawood founded and headed Descon Engineering Limited, as he did several other business ventures.
When asked to serve the present government, Abdul Razak Dawood fully disclosed all his business associations to the prime minister and to ensure transparency and avoid conflict of interest, he resigned from all these associations before joining the cabinet.
His disclosure and resignations were provided in writing to the prime minister with the request that these be fully shared with the cabinet.
The disclosure had also identified the Mohmand dam project for which Descon had already bid before Abdul Razak Dawood joined the cabinet.
The prime minister felt that this pending project should not prevent Abdul Razak Dawood from joining the cabinet.
In fact, the prime minister made a strong plea for the services of the advisor for commerce, textile, industries and production, and investment.
There has been no departure whatsoever from this ethic. So far as the Mohmand dam project is concerned, an invitation to bids was floated by WAPDA on 23rd November 2017, in accordance with International Competitive Bid (ICB) prequalification, single stage, two envelop procedure.
Descon submitted its bid in a joint venture with China Gezhouba with 30 percent participating interest on 26 June 2018. As per the rules, technically qualified bidders were entitled to the financial bid opening and CGGC- Descon JV was the qualified bidder.
It is for WAPDA to comment on the bidding process leading to the successful bidder with its extensive experience in tendering for projects in and outside Pakistan, the Mohmand dam bids arranged by WAPDA were processed as fully compliant with national and internationally-accepted ICB bidding procedures.