The cancellation of contract of Turkish company Albayrak and Ozpak, that were working on the waste management in Lahore , and the row on the ownership of the vehicles, imported from Turkey is being seen as major threat to bilateral relations with brotherly country Turkey. The timing of the cancellation and confiscating the vehicles by Punjab government is worth noting as the Turkish Foreign Minister along with his Azerbaijani counterpart visited Islamabad for Trilateral Meeting only a week after the cancellation and confiscation measures taken without noticing that high level engagement by federal government of Pakistan.
Lahore Waste Management Company officials with Punjab Police on 21 Dec 2020, raided garages of above mentioned companies and took hold of both.Garages had a fleet of over 750 vehicles, including garbage removal trucks, lorries and various vehicles, while the police did not allow anyone inside.Ozpak’s CEO Nizamettin Kocamese and Albayrak’s Project Coordinator Cagri Ozel said Lahor Waste Management Company’s (LWMC) officials, together with the Lahore police, raided the garages of the companies, the four belonging to Ozpak and the two to Albayrak.
Anadolu Agency reported that A joint press release of the two companies described the incident as “an attempt to sabotage the decision of the leaders of the two countries to increase the trade volume” and “bullying”. The companies are working to file a criminal complaint against the LWMC.
LWMC CEO Imran Ali Sultan termed the action as legal saying that the vehicle fleet must be handed over to them according to the bid, otherwise they would apply for the support of the civil administration.
The News reported on 02 Jan 2021 that the row of ownership of vehicles including specialized waste collection vehicles imported by Turkish contractors of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) intensified as both parties are sticking to their claims.
The court directed the LWMC to return the vehicles to the Turkish contractors, the LWMC didn’t comply yet. LWMC’s official spokesperson Jamil Khawar said that the company has not received any court order yet adding that the company has also a right to file appeal against any court order.
Jameel Khawar, spokesperson of LWMC says that the the Turkish companies were twisting the disputes with LWMC as disputes between the two brotherly countries. CEO of LWMC offered the Turkish contractors to send two names for a committee that will solve the problem but they did not take it serious.
According to this report, Turkish companies agreed to LWMC that the vehicles will be donated at the end of the contract but on the other hand Turkish companies say that there is huge difference between donation and confiscation.
Punjab’s Information Minister (with respect to status) Firdous Ashiq Awan along with officers of Lahore Waste Management Company LWMC held a press conference on 31 Dec 2020 and accused Shehbaz Sharif that he signed agreement on such high rates which has no precedent in the history of Pakistan.
She said that the contract between the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) and Turkish Companies (Ozpak and Albayrak) expired on 31st December 2020 but they stopped working earlier.
She said that according to the forensic audit report, both Turkish companies are defaulters of Rs7 billion to LWMC whereas further investigations are in process. LWMC had written letters to both the companies for negotiations to resolve the issue amicably. She said as per agreement all facilities/ machinery would be the property of the client without any additional charges at the expiry of contract and now LWMC was fulfilling the agreement but the other side was not showing respect to the agreement.
She said Shehbaz Sharif made agreement in dollars and the government had to pay PKR 35 Million daily to these companies. Shehbaz Sharif made such agreements just for high kick-backs and personal benefits.
Dr Firdaus says that NAB is investigating some $90m misappropriation in the LWMC contract with the two Turkish companies while there is no information shared from NAB at any point in recent weeks or months about this investigation.
She meant that had the agreement signed in PKR, gov of Punjab had not to pay the exaggerated amount that is due to raised price of Dollar in Pakistan. Here it is only to remind her that the value of Rupee was lowered to present level by her own government of PTI.In March 2010, when this agreement was made, the dollar rate was PKR 60 and now it is PKR 160.
Dr Firdaus Ashiq said in her press conference that the new agreements will be signed in PKR. That is very good if the foreign companies are ready for that. As long as we know, mostly the foreign companies do not sign such agreements.
Turkish company Albayrak took it serious and responded in a press release that “We listened to the press conference of Punjab Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan with great shock. Despite the court’s decision in our favour against the unlawful actions of the LWMC, she made accusations that misled the public and are completely false and libelous about our institution and our contract. We will share a detailed statement about the allegations with the public in a few days. We will initiate the legal process regarding the slanders she has made against our institution.”
Interestingly, all that happened in Lahore but still Turkey did not complained to Pakistan neither the Turkish FM’s visit was cancelled or postponed. Further, amazingly, Turkish FM in joint press conference, Islamabad Declaration, neither in meetings with FM Qureshy, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Dr Arif Alvi raised this issue. It can be taken as gracious conduct at Turkish side that they did not allow what was happening with their companies in Punjab to affect their relations with Pakistan. But it does not mean Pakistan should not see it at federal level.
Question is who is responsible for jeopardizing bilateral relations ? Punjab Government or Turkish Companies?
Tazeen Akhtar 
