The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) is set to spend Rs. 1 billion on city decoration despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recently announced austerity measures amid shrinking fiscal space.
The allocation will be used for city decoration, outdoor branding, and event management to welcome national and international dignitaries and mark national days.
The Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) of the MCI handles these activities in the federal capital, particularly during national events and visits by foreign heads of state and other dignitaries.
In the past, civic authorities hired private contractors separately for each event, a process that often caused delays. The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Finance Wing has now allocated Rs. 1 billion to the DMA for year-round spending on these services.
The CDA provides funds to the MCI on a loan basis and meets its financial requirements through its Finance Wing.
A rate-running contract has been floated for the procurement of branding and event management services under the least-cost-based selection procedure.
The procurement will follow a single-stage, two-envelope process. Technical bids will be evaluated first, while financial bids will only be opened for firms that qualify technically.
MCI Deputy Director General Tariq Latif said Rs. 600 million was spent on city branding and related services last year.
He said the allocation had been increased to Rs. 1 billion due to inflation and the expected number of international events in the country.
According to Latif, the lowest bidder will be responsible for outdoor branding, event management, and related services.
The contract will remain valid for two years and may be extended for another year.
He added that completing the procurement process would improve transparency and help avoid unnecessary delays.
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