ISLAMABAD, July 1: Housing Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat on Friday suspended two senior officers of Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak-PWD) on the charges of irregularities allegedly committed in the construction of new office blocks in Pak-Secretariat.

Kifatyat Ullah, superintending engineer, and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, executive engineer, have been suspended on the basis of a fact finding inquiry report, the ministry's spokesman said.

He said the inquiry report revealed that the two officers were involved in “serious irregularities” in executing the project – “Construction of New Secretariat Block” at the Constitution Avenue.

The disciplinary action has been initiated under the Government Servants' Efficiency & Disciplinary Rules 1973. Earlier, the minister had suspended Masood Akhtar, chief engineer, Rana Saleem and Khalid Akhtar, superintendent engineers, on the charges of massive irregularities in the construction of Kamalya Bridge and in Sandhianwala Road; where full payment had been made to the contractors but no work was done on the ground.

Sources in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told Dawn that the bureau has also started a probe into alleged irregularities and misappropriation of funds in the construction of new blocks.

The construction of new blocks of Pak Secretariat, costing Rs3.47 billion, started three years back.

The project was to be completed last year but due to paucity of funds, it witnessed delays. So far Rs1.83 billion has been spent on it.

Raja Mohammad Abbas, former secretary housing, had told Dawn that there were some irregularities in the award of some contracts for electrification of the building, which were cancelled.

A document of the housing ministry said initially combined tenders of electrical works were invited from the pre-qualified contractors, with Elektra System coming up with the lowest bid of Rs378 million.

However, these tenders were rejected by the chief engineer (north) without “lawful reasons” and the work was split up “in contrary to the advice of the consultants”.

The document said the tenders for electrical works were awarded on higher rates, with low specifications, to contractors who did not meet eligibility criteria.

Similarly, the contract for the lift works, costing Rs223 million, were awarded to an “incompetent firm” in violation of rules, the document said, adding that “infamous manufacturers and low quality brands” were given preference over well-reputed ones.

Ignoring the consultant's advice, the document said the work of diesel generating sets was awarded at exorbitant rates costing Rs112 million.