National Highway Authority (NHA) has completed the auction process of 219 vehicles, generating over Rs 213 million as part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s austerity drive.
According to a senior official, NHA auctioned 201 vehicles while about 18 vehicles remained unsold including 10 in its Islamabad HQ, due to the non-participation of bidders, unclear papers and low bidding price.
A spokesperson of NHA told this correspondent that, on the directives of State Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, NHA has auctioned 201 vehicles generating more than Rs 213.7 million. The Authority has presented a total of 219 vehicles to open auction, out of which 42 are luxury vehicles.
The last auction was held in NHA’s Gilgit office where 19 vehicles were auctioned for Rs. 4.51 million.
Earlier NHA auctioned its vehicles at its head office Islamabad (62) and regional offices located at Peshawar (15), Abbottabad (09), Lahore (24), Multan (14), Sukkur (10), Karachi (13) and Quetta (35). The auctioned vehicles also include 42 luxury vehicles.
NHA’s 35 vehicles were auctioned at a cost of more than Rs 30.40 million in its Regional Office in Quetta.
The NHA Regional Office in Karachi auctioned 13 vehicles at the cost of Rs 12.95 million. About 10 vehicles were auctioned at Rs 11.71 million in its Sukkur office.
The official further said that NHA’s Lahore office auctioned 24 vehicles and generated a total of Rs 34.99 million.
In NHA’s regional office Multan 14 vehicles out of 16 were auctioned at the tune of Rs 15.87 million.
About 9 vehicles were auctioned in Abbottabad which generated over Rs 10.13 million. A five member committee comprising, Director Establishment headquarter Muhammad Shakeel, General Manager Regional office Jahangir Ahmed, deputy director administration Naseem Ahmed, Deputy director Accounts Zulfiqar Abbassi and deputy director internal audit Johar Iqbal auctioned the vehicles.
Initially a total of 76 vehicles were presented for auction at NHA Headquarter Islamabad where 66 vehicles were auctioned and generated Rs 62.39 million. Eight vehicles were not sold due to non-participation of bidders. The papers of one car were not cleared and therefore it remained unsold. A bidder withdrew their offer for a car and returned it.
In NHA’s office Peshawar, 15 vehicles were auctioned for Rs 20.3 million.
An NHA official said that some of the vehicles were used by unidentified officials without prior authorization, causing huge loss to the national exchequer. Furthermore, some of the vehicles were left parked and spoilt due to a lack of safety measures.
A handsome reduction in NHA’s expenditure is expected with the auction of these vehicles, the official added.
