SAB okays KD 1.102 bln contracts since March 12

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KUWAIT CITY, July 18, (KUNA): Kuwait State Audit Bureau (SAB) said Monday it approved 545 out of 849 contracts since March 12 with a value of some KD 1.102 billion (USD 3.5 billion). Auditing process taking place at the start of the contracts contributed to saving around KD 44 million (USD 141 million) for State Treasury, said Fatma Darwish, SAB’s senior auditor for social affairs, said in a statement. She said 37 percent of contracts, or 307, were related to coronavirus pandemic with a value of KD 405 million (USD 1.3 billion).

The Ministry of Health had the lion share with 49 percent, or 202 contracts, with a value of KD 198 million (USD 637 million), said Darwish, for the purchase and import of medicine, personel protective equipment for frontline workers and ventilators. Darwish spoke about the urgent contracts examined by SAB.

She said 63 percent of contracts, valued KD 696 million (USD 2.2 billion) were urgent. They included services, maintenance, cleaning and construction. Darwish, meanwhile, said SAB rejected 197 contracts valued KD 311 million (around USD one billion) because they failed to abide by SAB’s criteria. SAB formed, on March 12, a team to examine the urgent contracts amidst spread of the pandemic. The team ended its mandate with the beginning of the restoration of normal life.
By Mohammed Al-Thaydi

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