PAC Express Displeasure On Hydle Projects Delays
Islamabad: A session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) held in Islamabad on Tuesday brought to light widespread financial irregularities and administrative lapses in major national hydropower projects.
Chaired by Member of National Assembly Junaid Akbar Khan, the committee took serious note of audit reports highlighting inefficiencies in the Ministry of Water Resources, with particular focus on the Dasu Hydropower Project (DHPP).
During the meeting, audit officials presented detailed objections, underscoring how modifications in the project’s scope had significantly escalated contract costs.
Despite years of planning and execution, the land acquisition and resettlement processes remain incomplete, a delay that drew sharp reactions from PAC members.
Chairman Junaid Akbar voiced strong criticism over the decision to commence the project without resolving foundational issues.
He questioned the rationale behind launching such an expansive undertaking while basic prerequisites were still pending.chutuk hydle project
Responding to the criticism, Secretary for Water Resources Syed Ali Murtaza attributed the delay in land transfer to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
He stated that unresolved land disputes had persisted for over 13 years, describing the situation as part of a deeper, systemic issue in project implementation.
Additional members of the committee expressed their dismay at the ballooning costs. MNA Malik Amir Dogar highlighted the dramatic rise in project expenditure.
Pointing out that an initiative initially estimated at Rs4 billion had swelled to Rs36 billion. Similarly, MNA Sanaullah Khan Masti Khel condemned the handling of the project, describing the financial mismanagement as a deliberate attempt to deceive the public.
Echoing the sentiment, Senator Shibli Faraz demanded accountability for the missteps, asserting that national projects should not be treated as personal ventures and calling the situation a prime example of institutional arrogance and incompetence.
Following the discussion, the committee resolved to refer the matter to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for a comprehensive investigation.
Chairman Akbar emphasized that such reckless misuse of national funds must not go unpunished and warranted thorough scrutiny.
The committee also deliberated on the appointment of retired Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani as Chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
Members questioned the ongoing practice of placing retired military officials in senior civilian roles, raising concerns over why such important posts seemed consistently reserved for a particular group, rather than being filled through transparent, merit-based selection.
