950816

LHC restrains

PTBB from

awarding paper

supply contract

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued pre-admission notices to the Punjab Text Book Board and its Chairman on a petition seeking directions to place a contract on M/s Lab Aid Corporation for supply of paper to the Board. The court has also directed that in the meantime the contract shall not be awarded to anyone.

The learned court has also directed both the respondent to file their parawise comments within a week, and appoint an officer well versed with the matter to assist the court.

The Constitutional Petition was moved by Dr. Hamid Mahmood Proprietor of M/s Lab Aid Corporation. The petitioner submitted that he participated in the bid for supply of paper and was eligible for award of the contract being the lowest bidder.

He submitted that without calling him, his firm's name was excluded and the contract was awarded against a much higher than that of the petitioner. He pleaded that this was done with malafide intentions and would cause a heavy loss to the national exchequer.

He prayed that directions may be issued to the respondents to act in accordance with the law and place the contract on the lowest bidder. He also prayed that both the respondents be restrained from awarding the contract to a petitioner whose bids were higher than that of the petitioner.