LAHORE: The ongoing tendering amid a corrigendum at the eleventh hour for the procurement of shrimp-related articles has created doubts from some of the bidders, who believe that some ‘special people’ are likely to be ‘facilitated’ allegedly by the Punjab Fisheries Department to win the project.

Fisheries Department Director General Dr Sikandar Hayat is unaware of this development.

The situation turned suspicious after a corrigendum was covertly uploaded on the Epad website on Tuesday night — just two days before tender opening date including Feb 5 Kashmir Day holiday -- explaining some changes in specification of certain items and other terms and conditions.

The corrigendum modified specifications for certain items and introduced a requirement for bidders to present samples on the opening day.

“In corrigendum, specifications of a couple of items were changed with a direction to also bring samples of these items on the tenders opening day — Feb 6 morning,” said one of the bidders.

“With changing of specifications, it is not possible to prepare sample due to issues related to import etc. It is also surprising that the condition of bringing samples of the items on the date of tender opening (Feb 6) was not mentioned in the main tender published on Jan 18.”

The Punjab Fisheries Department had initially floated the tender through the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) website with a submission deadline of Feb 6. However, the sudden changes have raised concerns over transparency, favoritism, and financial mismanagement.

Historically, tenders issued by the Punjab Fisheries Department and the Fisheries Development Board (FDB) have been criticised for benefiting a select few, creating a monopoly. As new bidders geared up for fair competition, officials allegedly intervened to manipulate the process in favor of pre-selected suppliers.

On Feb 4, the department uploaded a corrigendum altering technical specifications, making it difficult for new participants to qualify.

“Feb 5 is a public holiday, meaning bidders had no time to respond. Yet, the submission deadline remains unchanged,” said another bidder, suspecting deliberate exclusion of competition.

The modifications effectively tailor the tender to suit certain suppliers, ensuring their eligibility while shutting out others. This lack of competition could lead to inflated prices, increasing the financial burden on Punjab’s shrimp farming projects and misusing taxpayer money.

“These actions set a dangerous precedent, allowing procurement officials to manipulate tenders and channel contracts to favored entities at excessive costs,” the bidder added. Instead of fostering a transparent bidding environment, such tactics discourage new entrants, hindering the growth of Pakistan’s shrimp industry.

Ethical and legal concerns loom over these developments. If tenders continue to be awarded through procedural manipulation, Punjab’s shrimp farming expansion plans risk financial instability. The bidder urged Punjab government authorities to investigate these irregularities and ensure future tenders uphold fair competition and the best interests of the industry.

Fisheries Department Director General Dr Sikandar Hayat, when contacted, expressed ignorance on the issue, stating he would take action if anything has happened wrong. “I will check the tender and corrigendum, etc, with the project team. And if anything I find wrong I will either cancel the tenders or extend last date for opening the existing tender for a healthy competition with participation of more and more bidders,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2025