Public Account Committee (PAC) under the legislature parliament has again directed the government to finalise the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) printing contract through standard bidding procedures.
The PAC meeting held Friday gave the direction to the government to follow existing laws and Public Procurement Act while lending the contract.
The committee also termed the government's decision to award the contract to India by ignoring PAC's direction as unfortunate. The committee also recommended investigation into the foreign ministry's delaying tactics on MRP printing contract procedures.
The cabinet had asked the ministry to initiate MRP printing procedures five years ago. However, the ministry floated tender only in December 1. In response to a letter by Indian ambassador to foreign minister Sujata Koirala on December 4, the government cancelled the tender procedures on December 14 citing technical reasons. Later the cabinet lent the contract to Indian company without bidding.
The PAC on Thursday had remained divided over the issue. Even after hours of deliberations, the committee failed to come to a conclusion for framing strategies against government's ignorance to its directive on MRP deal.
In all other deliberations in the past, the committee members remained united against lending printing contract to Indian company. The committee repeatedly asked the government to open tender for MRP contract.
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