BAHAWALPUR: A team on Monday night foiled an alleged bid for suspected manipulation in award of tenders for development schemes at the office of highways deputy director (maintenance & repair).

On a tip-off, the divisional commissioner sent a team to the deputy director office where tenders worth Rs360 million for 87 uplift schemes for Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts were to be awarded.

The team found clerical staff instead of respective superintending engineer, EXEN or SDO Abdul Shakoor `discussing` tenders among 130 participating companies.

Both the superintendent engineer and EXENwere supposed to be present at the tender time.

They had entrusted the SDO with the task, who was [obviously] not present during night time.

The raidingpartyhead (city assistant commissioner) has reported the matter to Divisional Commissioner Saqib Zafar, who cancelled the tenders on Tuesday.

TALENT HUNT: Singing and painting competitions among boys and girls under Punjab chief minister`s talent hunt programme continuedforthe second day on Tuesday at Government Sadiq Egerton College hall.

The programme was conducted by Bahawalpur Art Council resident director and focal person, Rana Ajaz Mahmood, and the two committees formed for the purpose.