Islamabad: A Senate Standing Committee meeting held in Islamabad has sharply criticized the Power Division for its inadequate response to previous recommendations concerning development projects, transparency, and financial management. Chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, the committee underscored significant irregularities in the power sector and pressed for decisive action against those responsible for alleged corruption and mismanagement.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting reviewed the progress of crucial projects, including the Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP) and various power sector initiatives. The KWSSIP, with a budget of $1.6 billion, has reportedly achieved 77% physical progress since its inception in 2019. Concerns were raised by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi regarding water leakage issues in Karachi, highlighting the need for immediate repairs to ensure an uninterrupted water supply.
The committee also examined the status of its previous recommendations about projects funded by multilateral agencies, such as the Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project and the Jamshoro Coal-Fired Power Project. It noted serious irregularities in contract awards and claimed large-scale corruption, urging strict action against those involved. The committee rejected the Power Division’s explanations and expressed dissatisfaction with its failure to protect national interests.
Further discussions revealed the non-recovery of Rs. 1.282 billion paid to a contractor for sales tax in the Dasu-Islamabad project. The committee questioned the audit’s procedural irregularity classification and pressed for the recovery of funds. Additionally, discrepancies were noted in the bidding process for the Jamshoro project, leading to recommendations for investigations by the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Accountability Bureau.
The committee concluded by expressing dissatisfaction with the overall performance of the relevant departments and called for stringent measures to ensure accountability and curb corruption.