PPRA Criticizes Karachi Port Trust for Dredging Contract Delay
Karachi: The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority has expressed criticism over the failure of the Karachi Port Trust to release a technical evaluation report for awarding a dredging contract at the Karachi Harbour approach channel.
The PPRA has aired concerns over the delay in releasing a technical evaluation for the bidders. KPT explained how the report was withheld based on discussions with one of the four bidders. Again, the PPRA called this action a violation of its seven-day standstill following the declaration of results of the technical evaluation.
The PPRA requested KPT to explain why the technical evaluation report is not issued. The authority added that KPT’s reason for withholding the report is not justified according to Rule 35. Rule 41 requires that all information concerning the evaluation of bids shall be kept confidential until the report of the evaluation is publicly announced. The PPRA reminded KPT that withholding justification for the acceptance or rejection .of bids after the announcement is not allowed.
Interestingly, KPT did not react to the reminder of the PPRA concerning this matter. Earlier, it had reacted and stated that the technical evaluation report was ready but was being kept in abeyance pending more discussion with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). According to KPT, this was done to ensure the project was taken in the best interest and completed in a timely, manner by May 2025.
In its rejoinder, KPT also stated that the technical bid results had been orally shared with the four bidders. KPT submitted that publicizing the report could expose sensitive competitive information. The four bidders included Jan de Nul of Belgium, NMDC of UAE, Van Oord of Netherlands, and CHEC.
The controversy started when the initial technical evaluation disqualified CHEC, but later. KPT approved its technical bid and allowed the company to change its financial bid, making CHEC the lowest bidder.
