Karachi (HRNW)- The FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle has registered a case against former chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and others over the alleged illegal allocation of berths to the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) in violation of rules and regulations.
According to the FIA, the matter caused a loss of more than Rs50 billion to the national exchequer. The case states that the berths allocated on a BOT basis in 1996 were supposed to be returned to KPT in 2017 after the completion of a 21-year contract, but despite the termination of the agreement, the berths were not taken back.
Investigations revealed that after the contract expired in 2017, open bidding was not conducted as required under the KPT manual. Furthermore, in 2005, two additional berths were allocated to KICT, extending its operational control until 2029.
The case also alleges that legal opinions against extending Phase One and Phase Two were not presented before the KPT board.
The FIA has named former KPT chairman Ahmed Hayat, former GMP& Jamshed Zaidi, and former KICT CEO Khurram Sajjad Abbas in the case. In addition, foreign companies holding 50% shares in KICT have also been included in the case as legal persons.
According to the FIA, steps are being taken to issue a Red Notice through Interpol for the arrest of the main accused residing abroad, while further investigation is underway.
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