The one thing that has come out very clearly in my friends interaction with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) Islamabad is, that what staff told me about the mafia that operates for gas connections to CNG stations is actually corrupt from the top down to the peon.
A case with the GM Islamabad, who has been holding on to his seat for over 6 years I'm told, was delayed with the single intent of extorting bribe money. Since bribes were refused, he put the matter into bureaucratic excrement which, thankfully, is the domain only of those that are not much less than the 'element' just mentioned.
The GM Ismail Piracha, chappy referred to above, actually asked someone to pay bribes to a nonenlisted contractor (read: his tout) bribe money and get their work done swiftly. I must say he gave excellent advice, because now my friend is still without a connection for over two years and with a battle imposed on him as well. That, of course, would be where the GM is making his mistake. If I know my friend, the rest of this mans life will be very unpleasant...I hope the Piracha character finds it worth his while and oh! let me not forget that I do hope he gets to enjoy that purple two seater Lexus...sounds iffy though, old man.
Interestingly, the matter when raised to the board members was not recognized by any. A little digging and I think I have the answer: the Engros buy and sell to SNGPL, the manshas buy and sell with SNGPL, had they been in the US a four year old would have slammed them with a CONFLICT OF INTEREST suit that would have taken them the rest of their lives to pay off. But this being Pakistan, THIS is how business is done here, it seems, you get on to the boards of your (government) buyer/supplier and hey it all stays in the family. And a happy one it must be too.
So, for now thats how it goes. The GM has not responded to any letter(s) written over a year, neither has the MD, a very Lone guy, and of course, the engros, dawoods and manshas just dont want to spoil this little in house game by taking up a just cause.
One would describe them as a fruity lot, to say the least...
But then again, I am sorry for them...they dont know things I do, its going to be fun.
Watch out!