ISLAMABAD: A strategic alliance of investment portfolio Rs. 118 billion between private financial institution, Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and Pakistan Post Office Directorate (PPOD) is likely to be shelved, as signatory of the agreement has been held responsible for tampering official record in favour of HBL.
An additional Director General (ADG) of Pakistan Post has been found involved in tampering the record by the fact-finding committee in favour of HBL.
HBL and the Pakistan Post Office Department had entered into a 20-year strategic alliance with an investment portfolio of Rs.118 billion on 7th of June 2020, aimed at furthering financial inclusion in the country by leveraging digital technology.
Soon after signing the agreement, an international watchdog Transparency International’s country office claimed in a letter sent to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that Pakistan Post violated Public Procurement Rules and Public-Private Partnership Act in awarding the contract worth Rs118 billion to Habib Bank Limited (HBL) for the digitization of its services.
A senior official of Pakistan Post revealed this scribe on condition not to be named that final copy of the agreement, which was endorsed and vetted by ministry of Law and Justice was later tampered by changing two different clauses of the agreement.
The directorate of Pakistan Post communicated in 2nd week of August 2020 to the office of federal secretary Ministry of Communication, a managerial and administrative custodian of Pakistan Post about the ‘criminal’ act and requested to form a committee to find the facts.
Sources informed The News Today that the federal secretary office expressing hesitation for probing the matter, directed Pakistan Post Office Directorate for immediately constituting a fact-finding committee and submit a report with two prerogatives- fixing responsibility on persons involved in this criminal act and the way forward for dealing the digitization of PPOD services.
The director general (DG) Pakistan Post formed a three-member fact-finding committee to investigate the matter of record tampering and changes in the agreement clauses. The committee found the changes in two clauses of the strategic alliance agreement between HBL and PPOD including clause 2.2 and 5.1. These changes were made after signing the contract by both the parties.
A senior official of ministry of Law and Justice responding a query informed this scribe that after vetting and endorsement by the Law Division, no one can make changes in any official/government document as at this stage, any change in agreement and document will be considered as criminal act/breach of trust and agreement will be declared null and vide.
The fact-finding committee in its report submitted to the federal secretary office Ministry of Communication held Additional Director General (ADG) dealing with financial services in PPOD, Ejaz Minhas responsible for this breach of trust (criminal act) along with some other officials.
The secretary office Ministry of Communication confirmed to this scribe about the fact-finding committee report which was submitted to the office concerned in the 1st week of September 2020.
A senior official of PPOD revealed that the strategic alliance between HBL and PPOD has now become more controversial however, with consent of federal minister of communication Murad Saeed, Directorate of Pakistan Post has been trying to renegotiate the agreement clauses with HBL officials.
He further disclosed that PPOD has also been considering another option as engaging United Bank Limited (UBL) in strategic alliance for digitization of financial services of Pakistan Post. The PPOD claimed that UBL was the second selected private business entity for this strategic alliance.
Additional Director General dealing with financial services and also signatory of the agreement, Ejaz Minhas while responding to a query initially feigned ignorant about this issue. He said that he is not in a position to comment on this issue despite reading the inquiry report, however later on a telephonic call he asked to contact HBL officials on this matter.
While responding on queries regarding the issue of record tampering, Director General PPOD, Rana Ikhlaque avoided any comment, however without naming any official, he confirmed to this scribe that a high-power committee was formed to investigate the matter and final report had been sent to secretary office ministry of communication holding responsible the officials allegedly involved in it. This scribe tried repeatedly but could not reach CEO/President HBL.
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