ISLAMABAD: A multi-billion rupees commercial plot in Islamabad’s posh E-11 sector was disposed of by the National Police Foundation (NPF) at a throwaway rate despite objections raised by some members of the NPF board.

According to documents available with Dawn, the 5,000 square-yard plot was sold to M/s SMB Private Limited for Rs1.08 billion. Interestingly, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in January this year had disposed of four much smaller plots at Rs7.7 billion through an open auction.

The CDA auctioned two plots in I-8 Markaz measuring 666.66 and 800 square yards for Rs1.14 billion and 1.46 billion, respectively.

A plot measuring 533.33 sq yards in I-14 Markaz was sold against (Rs1.225 million per sq yard) for Rs653 million and a Blue Area plot in the G-8 portion, measuring 2666.66 sq yards fetched Rs4.53 billion. Sources said the actual size of the NPF’s commercial plot was 14 kanals which was sold for Rs1.08 billion only.

NPF board approved sale of 5,000 sq yard to private firm through sealed bid instead of open auction

The decision to dispose of the plot was made at a meeting of the NPF board in March this year. According to the minutes of the meeting, the board approved disposing of the plot through a sealed bid instead of an open auction.

During the board meeting, Additional Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mohammad Ali Babakhel opposed the disposal of commercial land through a sealed bid and said: “It would have been better if an open auction under the hammer had been carried out instead of the sealed bid auction.”

Likewise, the Director Headquarters Admin of the NPF Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Karim Khan was of the view that “The procedure prescribed under Islamabad Land Disposal Rules (ILDR) 2005 has not been followed.”

Another official of the NPF, Superintendent of Police Tanveerul Hassan raised multiple questions on sealed bidding in his note of dissent and termed it against regulations and rules applicable to the NPF.

He stated, “Sealed bid auction method adopted for auction of commercial plot is in conflict of ILDR.”

He pointed out that Rule 9 (1) of the NPF Rules stipulates “the commercial plots in the scheme shall be disposed of through the open auction to general public for generation of funds for the welfare of the beneficiaries.”

He also questioned as to why a multi-purpose commercial plot was restricted for the IT sector company which according to him “resulted in lack of competition and exclusion of other bidders/firms involved in the business.”

The NPF sold the plot to M/s SMB as it was the single bidder qualified for technical evaluation.

When contacted, NPF Managing Director Sabir Ahmed said the plot was disposed of purely on merit. He said the NPF board had formally approved disposing of the plot through the sealed bid auction.

According to him, the NPF invited bids from interested parties and got published an advertisement in 6-7 newspapers.

He said an open auction results in cartelisation; therefore, the board decided to invite sealed bids.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2024