KARACHI: A major procurement scandal has emerged at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, where Khan Traders — absent from the official tender session — was still awarded contracts worth billions of rupees for patients’ diet supplies. The awards were granted on single bids, in direct violation of Sindh Public Procurement Authority (SPPRA) rules and amid allegations of favoritism.
Attendance Sheet Reveals Absence
The official attendance sheet of 26 May 2025 shows the presence of 11 firms, including M. Aamir Corporation, Uzair Traders, Jamco Distributors, Al-Rehman Associates, Shumail & Co, AJ Enterprises, Noor Enterprises, Star Thar Traders, Alcom Traders, Lord Enterprises, and Malik Muhammad Zafar.
Khan Traders’ name and signature are missing.
Yet Secured the Largest Contracts
Despite being absent, Khan Traders was awarded the most lucrative contracts of JPMC’s 2025–26 procurement:
- Mutton: Rs. 1,364/kg (90,000 kg)
- Chicken: Rs. 738/kg (40,000 kg)
- Fish (Surmai, Rao, Sumandri): Rs. 614–619/kg (60,000 kg)
- Mutton Bones: Rs. 514/kg (2,000 kg)
- Ice: 200,000 kg @ Rs. 7/kg
Bread & Bakery Products
All Fruits: bananas, apples, kinoo, malta, musami, plums, apricots, cheeko (≈ 150,000 dozen/kg combined)
These allocations make Khan Traders the one of the largest beneficiary of JPMC’s food budget.
Rules Broken, Checks Ignored
According to SPPRA rules:
- Contracts cannot be awarded on single bids without re-tendering.
- Contractors’ reputation, financial soundness, and past performance must be verified before awarding.
Both rules were ignored. Despite facing an anti-corruption case for bogus billing at Sindh Government Korangi Hospital, Khan Traders was still awarded fresh contracts worth billions.
Committee and Sectional Responsibility
The approvals were endorsed by the procurement committee:
- Prof. Shahid Rasul, Executive Director JPMC (Chairman)
- Dr. Jehan Alam, Professor of Dentistry (Member)
- Representative of Deputy Commissioner South Karachi (Member)
In addition, the Head of the Diet Section, Deputy Director Dr. Adeel Samoo, who oversees diet procurement, has also come under scrutiny for failing to prevent irregularities and ensure transparent evaluation of bids.
Demands for Probe
Civil society groups and rival contractors are demanding an independent investigation by the Anti Corruption Establishment and other inquiry agencies, warning that the procurement irregularities risk massive financial losses and jeopardize the welfare of poor patients.
“This is daylight robbery of hospital funds,” said one rights activist. “Awarding billions to an absent bidder with a corruption history is a crime against patients and taxpayers.”
