Transparency International has released a report, stating that prima facie the Metro Bus Project was completed at a cost of Rs 29.078 billion. Moreover, two contracts of annual cost of Rs 1.2018 billion for metro bus supply and operation and security were also awarded in a transparent manner and on the basis of a competitive bidding as per Punjab Procurement Rules 2009.

In its report, Transparency International says it considers that two unsolicited contracts were awarded to M/S Platform, as stated by LDA, on the basis of a competitive bidding as per Punjab Procurement Rules 2009.According to the details given by the LDA authorities, earlier, the Punjab government had requested Transparency International to review and comment on the procurement process of the Metro Bus Project and award of contracts. An MoU was signed for the implementation of the “Integrity Pact” on 28th February 2013.

On demand of Transparency International, Lahore Development Authority also provided a copy of the NAB Contract Evaluation Forms for the 27 contracts awarded under this project and details of infrastructure procurements of 25 contracts.

Meanwhile, DGPR also issued a handout on behalf of the provincial govt which revealed that Transparency International verified implementation of Metro Bus Project in a transparent manner. The govt also claimed the Transparency International Pakistan in its report had observed that relevant rules and regulations had been adhered to in the award of contracts for Metro Bus supply, maintenance and security.

It may be mentioned that on February 28, 2013, the Punjab government invited Transparency International to judge the transparency in the award of contracts for Metro Bus Project. In response to the demand of Transparency International, Lahore Development Authority provided a copy of the NAB Contract Evaluation Forms for the 27 contracts awarded under this project and details of infrastructure procurements of 25 contracts. The report has also evaluated the total cost of the project which is around Rs 30 billion.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Punjab govt has said that by authenticating transparency of Metro Bus Project of the Punjab government, Transparency International had silenced those who were unjustifiably criticising the project for their nefarious designs. The spokesman has further said the evolution of the cost of the project by Transparency International had also exposed those who were making exaggerations in this regard