ISLAMABAD: Five road development projects in Dera Ismail Khan, the home district of former federal minister Asad Mahmood, saw their tender rates increase by up to 55 per cent during his tenure as Federal Minister for Communications, raising serious questions about procurement decisions, ministerial oversight and the use of public funds.
The timing and location of the projects have brought Mahmood’s ministerial role into sharp focus. He held the communications portfolio from April 19, 2022, to August 10, 2023, placing him at the head of the ministry responsible for overseeing key institutions, including the National Highway Authority (NHA).
During this period, the tendering process for five road projects in Dera Ismail Khan was reportedly revisited, with revised rates substantially exceeding the original government estimates. The increases, ranging from 51 to 55 per cent, demand a clear explanation from the authorities responsible for preparing, reviewing and approving the revised costs.
The central question is why these projects in the former minister’s home district were approved at significantly higher rates during his time in office—and who authorised the decisions.
The connection between Mahmood’s ministerial portfolio, the NHA’s institutional role and the location of the projects raises questions that cannot be brushed aside as routine procurement matters. As the minister in charge of the communications portfolio, Mahmood’s tenure warrants scrutiny over the decisions taken by departments and institutions operating under the ministry.
However, the available information does not establish that Mahmood personally directed the rate increases or benefited from the contracts. Those questions require examination of the tender documents, approval records, technical assessments and payment details.
The unexplained increase also raises concerns about whether the revised estimates were independently assessed, whether the bidding process remained competitive and whether the higher rates reflected genuine changes in construction requirements or imposed an unnecessary burden on the public exchequer.
Neither the reasons for re-tendering nor the technical justification for the higher rates have been established in the information available for this report. The identities of the officials who approved the revised estimates and the extent of any additional work also remain unclear.
The NHA and the Ministry of Communications should disclose the original estimates, revised cost calculations, bidding evaluation reports, contract awards and payment records for all five projects. An independent audit would help determine whether the increases were justified, whether procurement rules were followed and whether any public money was lost.
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For residents of Dera Ismail Khan, the issue is not simply about higher figures on official documents. It is about whether development funds delivered value to the public—or whether decisions made during a former minister’s tenure left taxpayers facing substantially higher costs.
The question demanding an answer is straightforward: How did five road projects in Asad Mahmood’s home district end up with tender rates up to 55 per cent higher during his tenure as communications minister, and who was responsible for approving them?
