Country seems to be heading towards ‘civil war-like’ situation

HAMID WALEED

LAHORE: The lead contractor for Engineering, Procurement, Construction & Commissioning of gas processing, LPG recovery plant and allied facilities at NASHPA Oilfield in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has expressed its inability to continue with the project due to prevailing law and order situation in Islamabad.

According to a letter written to the Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL), a copy of which is available with Business Recorder, TDE consortium, the lead contractor from Canada for the project, stated that the current law and order situation in the capital city of Pakistan is deteriorating with the passage of each day. Due to the prevalent socio-political conditions and instability in Pakistan, the banking and insurance companies are declining to provide guarantees and insurance for the project.

Further, it suggested that through various press conferences held by the government and the armed forces, the country seems to be heading towards a political impasse and a civil war-like situation.

The proposal for the project was submitted by TDE consortium on April 10, 2013 and it was declared the lowest bidder after evaluation by OGDCL.

After a lot of deliberations, the contract was near to be signed when the capital was hit by a wave of violent protests.