Probe into PRACS irregularities demanded

LAHORE - Irregularities in purchasing furniture for official residence of MD PRACS - a subsidiary of Pakistan Railways - worth millions of rupees and delivery of printing material before tender have been revealed here on Wednesday. Worker unions of PR in an appeal, sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Ch and Chairman Public Accounts Committee, have disclosed that Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services (PRACS) invited quotations for the printing of six different documents sometime ago, but astonishingly, a firm supplied 2,000 event catalogue, event manual, DVD production CD sticker, printed art jacket, envelope and notepads before the completion of tender procedures and violated Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules. Likewise, 75 per cent of Rs4 million as for advance money was given to Fazal Jan Corporation against ordered for the purchase of furniture for MD PRACS official residence without publishing proper advertisement in any newspaper. It is to be noted that MD PRACS never spent a single day in his official residence so far. Worker unions of PR have appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Ch and Chairman Public Accounts Committee to probe the irregularities.