Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has invited competitive bids for infrastructure development on 33 kanals of recovered land and the rehabilitation and asphalt carpeting of adjoining streets and roads at its Housing Scheme on Budhni Road, Peshawar, as part of efforts to improve essential infrastructure and integrate additional land into the existing residential development.

The procurement, advertised on October 6, 2026, covers two major components, including infrastructure development on the recovered land and improvement of the adjoining road network through asphalt carpeting and rehabilitation works.

According to the tender notice, the procurement has been issued under reference number OPF 1388, with funds reserved for the project during the financial year 2026-27.

Interested construction companies and eligible contractors have been invited to submit their bids electronically through the e Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS) version 2.0.

The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) record specifies October 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM as the deadline for submission of bids, while the electronic opening of bids is scheduled for 12:30 PM on the same day.

The tender requires participating contractors to furnish bid security amounting to Rs 872,649, while the validity period of submitted bids has been fixed at 120 days.

OPF has adopted the Single Stage Two Envelope competitive bidding procedure, under which technical and financial proposals are submitted separately for evaluation in accordance with the procurement requirements.

The selection process will follow a least cost based evaluation approach, with financial proposals considered according to the prescribed criteria after the relevant technical requirements have been assessed.

The foundation has made registration on EPADS v2.0 mandatory for interested contractors, who must obtain the bidding documents and submit their proposals through the electronic procurement platform.

The bidding documents contain detailed terms and conditions, technical specifications, eligibility requirements and other information relating to the proposed civil works.

According to the procurement notice, manual submission of bids will not be entertained, making electronic participation compulsory for interested contractors.

The proposed development work is aimed at providing the necessary infrastructure on 33 kanals of recovered OPF land and connecting the area with the existing facilities and road network of the housing scheme.

The project also includes asphalt carpeting and rehabilitation of adjacent streets and roads to improve access and ensure better connectivity between the existing residential sections and the area proposed for development.

Improvement of the road network is expected to facilitate movement within the housing scheme and support the effective use of the recovered land once the required infrastructure works are completed.

The Budhni Road Housing Scheme is one of the residential developments established by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation to provide planned housing facilities for overseas Pakistanis and other eligible purchasers.

According to official OPF project information, the housing scheme covers approximately 930 kanals of land and is situated around 1.5 kilometres from the Motorway M 1 exit on Budhni Road in Peshawar.

The project was approved on February 14, 1990, while its original development works were completed in 2005.

The housing scheme comprises residential and commercial plots supported by roads, sewerage infrastructure, water supply arrangements, gas connections, electricity facilities and other essential services.

Official project records indicate that the scheme includes 758 residential plots and 74 commercial plots, with a substantial number of plots already allotted to overseas Pakistanis and other eligible applicants.

OPF has also identified maintenance of roads, water supply infrastructure, boundary walls and other facilities among the continuing development and maintenance requirements of the housing scheme.

The development of the recovered 33-kanal area represents an opportunity to improve the utilisation of available land within the existing housing project, subject to completion of the required infrastructure works and applicable planning approvals.

The asphalt rehabilitation component is particularly important for connecting the development area with the existing network of streets and roads.

Improved road conditions can also support access to residential and commercial properties and facilitate the movement of residents, service vehicles and construction-related transport.

However, the tender information does not specify the number of additional residential or commercial plots that may eventually be developed on the recovered land.

Likewise, the available procurement details do not provide the project's total approved construction cost, commencement date or contract completion period.

These details are expected to become clearer following the evaluation of bids, selection of a successful contractor and finalisation of the construction contract.

The planned infrastructure development is part of OPF's broader responsibility to manage and improve housing facilities established for overseas Pakistanis, including the maintenance of essential services and development of land available within its residential projects.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan The federal government has decided to issue a third tender for the construction of Karachi Information Technology Park on November 15, 2026, after two previous attempts to attract qualified contractors failed to receive any bids, causing further delays to one of Pakistan's major technology infrastructure development projects. Under the revised procurement schedule, eligible Korean construction companies will be invited to submit their bids by January 4, 2027, while the government has set June 2027 as the new target for commencing construction activities. According to sources, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has revised its procurement strategy to address the difficulties encountered during the previous two unsuccessful bidding rounds. The ministry has decided to undertake an independent review of the project's bidding documents before launching the third tender, with the objective of improving the procurement process and encouraging participation from qualified Korean contractors. The first two tendering attempts failed after no eligible companies submitted bids, preventing the authorities from awarding the construction contract and proceeding with the planned development work. Under the revised arrangements, an independent Construction Contracts Consultant will examine the Request for Proposal (RFP), contractual requirements and other relevant bidding documents before the fresh tender is issued.The review of the draft RFP is scheduled to be completed by October 25, 2026. The Project Review and Steering Committee has directed that the independent assessment be completed before the next bidding round to identify and address potential procedural, technical or contractual issues affecting contractor participation. According to the revised schedule, approval for the re-tendering process will be sought from the Project Review Committee and the Export-Import Bank of Korea by November 15, 2026. Following the required approvals, the third tender will be advertised through an open competitive bidding process involving all eligible Korean companies. Technical bids submitted by interested contractors will be examined by the project's Technical Evaluation Committee, while financial proposals will undergo a separate evaluation process. After the completion of technical and financial assessments, the Project Steering and Review Committee will consider the recommendations before the final approval process is undertaken with Korea Exim Bank. The government has set March 25, 2027, as the target date for signing the construction contract with the successful bidder. Following the signing of the agreement, the selected contractor will be required to fulfil contractual obligations, including the submission of a bank guarantee, before receiving the necessary advance payment and mobilising resources for construction. Under the proposed timetable, contractor mobilisation and the commencement of construction activities are expected by June 2027, subject to successful bidding and timely completion of the remaining formalities. Karachi IT Park is one of the federal government's major technology infrastructure initiatives, aimed at promoting Pakistan's information technology industry, encouraging investment, supporting technology entrepreneurship and strengthening the country's capacity to expand IT exports. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on June 4, 2021, while its foundation stone was laid in Karachi on November 7, 2022. At the time of approval, the project carried an estimated cost of $186.658 million, equivalent to approximately Rs 41.39 billion at the exchange rates used in the original project estimates. The financing arrangement includes a $158.416 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea, while the remaining $28.242 million was allocated as Pakistan's contribution through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The technology park is planned on approximately six acres of land near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, providing modern facilities and integrated infrastructure for information technology companies, technology startups and related businesses. According to the project's detailed design documents, the development includes a purpose built building comprising eight above ground floors and three basement levels, equipped with modern office facilities, data centres, parking arrangements, backup power systems and advanced information and communication technology infrastructure. The project is designed to accommodate software development companies, IT-enabled service providers, research organisations, technology startups and other enterprises operating in the digital economy. Facilities planned for the park include business offices, data infrastructure, shared technological services and spaces intended to support collaboration among industry, academic institutions and emerging technology businesses. The development is expected to contribute to Pakistan's efforts to establish a stronger technology ecosystem, improve opportunities for entrepreneurship and attract greater domestic and foreign investment into the information technology sector. At the project's launching ceremony, government officials estimated that the facility could generate more than 20,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for IT professionals and workers associated with supporting activities. However, the actual scale of employment generation will depend on the project's completion, occupancy levels and the number of companies establishing operations at the facility. Karachi IT Park was initially scheduled for completion in June 2026, but its development has experienced repeated delays because of administrative, technical and procurement related challenges. Earlier complications included objections concerning the proposed building design near Karachi Airport, issues involving land allocation and regulatory approvals, and subsequent difficulties in securing a construction contractor. The procurement challenges became more pronounced when two consecutive bidding rounds failed to attract any eligible contractors, preventing the commencement of the main construction work. The latest decision to undertake an independent review of bidding documents and introduce a revised procurement schedule represents another attempt by the government to move the delayed project towards implementation. The successful completion of the third bidding round will be particularly important because further procurement setbacks could affect the revised target for commencing construction in June 2027. Karachi IT Park is considered a significant component of Pakistan's broader digital infrastructure development strategy, alongside other technology parks and initiatives intended to support the expansion of the country's IT and IT-enabled services industries. The project is expected to facilitate technology companies by providing integrated business infrastructure and access to facilities that could strengthen innovation, research collaboration and commercial development. Its completion could also support Pakistan's ambitions to expand IT exports, attract international technology companies and improve the competitiveness of domestic enterprises in regional and global markets. However, progress on the project will now depend largely on the outcome of the third tender, the participation of eligible Korean contractors, the timely completion of technical and financial evaluations and final approval of the construction contract by Korea Exim Bank.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has established the National Faceless Centre (NFC) in Islamabad under the Finance Act 2026, introducing a major administrative reform aimed at digitising tax audits, assessments and related proceedings while reducing direct interaction between taxpayers and tax officials.

The initiative forms part of the government's broader efforts to modernise Pakistan's taxation system, strengthen institutional transparency, improve accountability and minimise discretionary powers in tax administration.

Under the new framework, tax-related proceedings will increasingly be conducted electronically, replacing traditional arrangements in which taxpayers were required to interact directly with designated tax officers at particular offices.

The legal framework for the establishment of the National Faceless Centre has been provided through Section 32C, introduced under the Finance Act 2026.

According to the provision, the FBR has been empowered, notwithstanding other provisions of the relevant law, to establish the National Faceless Centre and determine its jurisdiction, powers and functions for conducting tax proceedings through a faceless mechanism.

The legislation also authorises the tax authority to establish an administrative structure comprising a Director General, Inland Revenue officers and supporting staff, depending on operational requirements.

Furthermore, the FBR has been empowered to establish different wings and units within the centre to perform specialised functions relating to tax administration and regulatory proceedings.

The FBR formally announced the establishment of the National Faceless Centre on September 25, 2026, following a decision taken during a meeting of the Board in Council.

Under the new system, cases requiring tax audits will be selected through a computerised, risk-based mechanism rather than through the discretionary decisions of individual tax officers.

Once selected, cases will be assigned automatically to designated officers who may be stationed in different parts of the country.

The arrangement is intended to prevent tax officials from independently selecting particular taxpayers for examination and to minimise opportunities for undue influence or personal intervention in tax proceedings.

A significant feature of the faceless system is the separation of responsibilities relating to tax audits, assessments and quality control.

Under Section 32C, these three functions in a specific case for a particular tax period will be performed by separate officers.

One officer will undertake the audit, another will conduct the assessment, while a third officer will review the proceedings to ensure that applicable procedures and quality requirements have been followed before the final order is issued.

This division of responsibilities is designed to ensure that no single official exercises complete control over an individual taxpayer's case throughout the proceedings.

The legislation also provides for the use of electronic communication between different units of the National Faceless Centre, registered taxpayers, their authorised representatives and other relevant persons.

All necessary documents, information, evidence and official correspondence relating to the proceedings will be exchanged electronically.

According to the FBR, notices, responses and hearings under the new system will be processed through its IRIS digital platform.

However, cases requiring physical verification, field inspections or recovery proceedings under the law will be handled by separate field teams.

The National Faceless Centre will operate through dedicated administrative wings responsible for faceless audits, faceless assessments, quality control and field operations.

A Programme Management Unit has also been established to supervise the implementation and operational development of the new system.

The FBR expects the initiative to improve the efficiency and consistency of tax administration by ensuring that cases are processed according to standardised procedures rather than individual preferences.

The reform is also intended to address longstanding complaints concerning unnecessary personal interaction, administrative delays and the exercise of discretionary authority in tax proceedings.

By introducing automated case allocation and separating audit and assessment responsibilities, the tax authority aims to strengthen transparency and accountability within the taxation system.

The establishment of the centre represents another step in Pakistan's transition towards technology-based tax administration, where electronic records, automated processes and digital communication are expected to play an increasingly important role.

However, the effectiveness of the new framework will depend on reliable technological infrastructure, transparent case allocation procedures, data protection safeguards and effective accountability mechanisms.

Ensuring the security and confidentiality of taxpayer information will also remain a crucial requirement as a greater proportion of tax proceedings moves to electronic platforms.

The FBR maintains that the National Faceless Centre will contribute to faster, fairer and more transparent tax proceedings while providing taxpayers with a more standardised and efficient system for handling audits and assessments.

The reform is expected to support wider efforts to strengthen tax compliance, improve institutional performance and modernise Pakistan's overall revenue administration.