Probe demanded for Punjab government’s laptop scandal

**aamir** · 16-04-12, 12:55 PM

Recent reports have revealed massive corruption in Punjab government’s Laptop scheme. According to sources, Punjab government has incurred an economical loss totaling to about Rs. 1.7 billion. This has invited severe criticism from many political circles and pressure has increased on the Chief Minister (CM) Punjab to conduct independent investigations of the matter.

Instead of purchasing the laptops directly from the manufacturing company, a local company was awarded the contract. The laptops which the Punjab government bought at the rate of Rs. 37,000 per piece can be easily obtained at a maximum price of Rs 25,000 per piece in the market or it could have been lowered to as low as Rs 20,000 in case of such a huge purchase.

A faction from Punjab Assembly consisting of three Members of Provincial Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Q have asked the investigations to be carried under the supervision of a senior judge of Lahore High Court. They demanded the formation of an independent committee of IT experts to aid the court with technical details and hence expose the culprits.

Moreover, the model of laptops distributed among the students is not having the specifications mentioned by the government. The Dell-Inspiron N4050, the one distributed among students, works on i3 or i5 processors, however, the machines provided by government runs on Pentium D processor- a not up-to-the-date technology for the last five years. For Rs 37,000 one can buy a pretty advanced system having much better processors. The laptops do not carry even a year’s guarantee either.

Linux-based Ubuntu operating system is installed in the laptops and the BIOS is customized for Linux systems instead of Windows, which is vastly used in Pakistan. In order to install Windows it costs about Rs 4,000 for BIOS up gradation. The purchase was made by the Planning and Development (P&D) department and for the distribution Higher Education department was consulted. Responding to this, the MPA’s have asked the CM as why the Planning and Development division has handled the purchase when it is a department responsible for planning, not marketing matters.

The supplier was among the government’s favorites and it purchased the systems without any initial investments. According to law, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) must be sent a copy of any government contract more than Rs. 400 million but there was not any such step in this case.

Further, the federal minister for Information, Ms. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the laptop distribution was confined to students of urban areas and those from rural areas, who need them, were neglected. She added that this will further render the rural areas more backward and will result in discrimination for students of unprivileged areas.

For awarding the contract, the interested parties were asked to submit Rs 30 million as surety which being a big amount hindered many bidders. This resulted in only one party left and it enjoyed by fixing the laptops’ prices. It is also speculated that the government provided this much money in advance. On this the three of Punjab Assembly’s members have asked the CM as to why the contract was provided to a private company when such a responsible matter could have been handled by the government alone as well.

They said that had the company been consulted directly, it would have saved about one billion to the exchequer. Also, they added that in such case the government would have ended up getting the laptops at half the original price and with one year warranty rather than three year.

**punk** · 25-04-12, 02:28 AM

I just think if they would have asked any company to manufacture them in Pakistan and in return they will place this order. It would have brought lot of jobs. Distributing laptops in this way is a very bad step too. Very bad governance, I hope people will realize and now vote for the Change. IK !

**Ijaz Ahmed** · 25-04-12, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by punk

I just think if they would have asked any company to manufacture them in Pakistan and in return they will place this order. It would have brought lot of jobs.

Very true - that's the vision our leaders should have.

**Zohair** · 25-04-12, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by punk

I just think if they would have asked any company to manufacture them in Pakistan and in return they will place this order. It would have brought lot of jobs. Distributing laptops in this way is a very bad step too. Very bad governance, I hope people will realize and now vote for the Change. IK !

Well you are right about the manufacturing in Pakistan thing, but i don't think by voting for the same old gangsters, murderers, and porn stars under the name of PTI or IK will change anything.

**bhatti4200** · 01-07-12, 11:13 PM

Corruption , Corruption , Corruption . Our leaders cannot do welfare projects without Corruption.
Actually they start Welfare projects, so that they can do Corruption.

**ssaleem** · 20-07-12, 05:16 PM

So far no one has been able to prove corruption in this case.

**laggaoboli** · 28-07-12, 03:02 PM

@punk manufacturing laptops in Pakistan would have been not easy...

I think, this was all about a political move from Punjab Government... but still good luck to the the ones who have laptops...

**gaming boy** · 05-03-13, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by aamir

Recent reports have revealed massive corruption in Punjab government’s Laptop scheme. According to sources, Punjab government has incurred an economical loss totaling to about Rs. 1.7 billion. This has invited severe criticism from many political circles and pressure has increased on the Chief Minister (CM) Punjab to conduct independent investigations of the matter.

Instead of purchasing the laptops directly from the manufacturing company, a local company was awarded the contract. The laptops which the Punjab government bought at the rate of Rs. 37,000 per piece can be easily obtained at a maximum price of Rs 25,000 per piece in the market or it could have been lowered to as low as Rs 20,000 in case of such a huge purchase.

A faction from Punjab Assembly consisting of three Members of Provincial Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Q have asked the investigations to be carried under the supervision of a senior judge of Lahore High Court. They demanded the formation of an independent committee of IT experts to aid the court with technical details and hence expose the culprits.

Moreover, the model of laptops distributed among the students is not having the specifications mentioned by the government. The Dell-Inspiron N4050, the one distributed among students, works on i3 or i5 processors, however, the machines provided by government runs on Pentium D processor- a not up-to-the-date technology for the last five years. For Rs 37,000 one can buy a pretty advanced system having much better processors. The laptops do not carry even a year’s guarantee either.

Linux-based Ubuntu operating system is installed in the laptops and the BIOS is customized for Linux systems instead of Windows, which is vastly used in Pakistan. In order to install Windows it costs about Rs 4,000 for BIOS up gradation. The purchase was made by the Planning and Development (P&D) department and for the distribution Higher Education department was consulted. Responding to this, the MPA’s have asked the CM as why the Planning and Development division has handled the purchase when it is a department responsible for planning, not marketing matters.

The supplier was among the government’s favorites and it purchased the systems without any initial investments. According to law, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) must be sent a copy of any government contract more than Rs. 400 million but there was not any such step in this case.

Further, the federal minister for Information, Ms. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the laptop distribution was confined to students of urban areas and those from rural areas, who need them, were neglected. She added that this will further render the rural areas more backward and will result in discrimination for students of unprivileged areas.

For awarding the contract, the interested parties were asked to submit Rs 30 million as surety which being a big amount hindered many bidders. This resulted in only one party left and it enjoyed by fixing the laptops’ prices. It is also speculated that the government provided this much money in advance. On this the three of Punjab Assembly’s members have asked the CM as to why the contract was provided to a private company when such a responsible matter could have been handled by the government alone as well.

They said that had the company been consulted directly, it would have saved about one billion to the exchequer. Also, they added that in such case the government would have ended up getting the laptops at half the original price and with one year warranty rather than three year.

hi
i want to buy these laptop in huge quantity as in your post you said that this laptop price is 25,000 then kindly give me 100 laptops in this price .............