The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has called for investigations by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) into alleged irregularities involving Rs. 1.282 billion in the 765kV Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project.
The committee, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, reviewed the foreign-funded project during a meeting on Monday. Officials from the Economic Affairs Division, Power Division, National Grid Company, NESPAK and other relevant departments attended the meeting.
According to the committee, the Rs. 1.282 billion amount relates to taxes and duties under Lot IV of the Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project.
The committee noted that the bidding documents had specifically excluded these taxes and duties from the bid evaluation. However, the amount was later incorporated into the price awarded to M/s NWEPDI TBEA JV.
The Senate panel alleged that officials in the Power Division, National Grid Company and its Board of Directors were reluctant to rectify the matter.
It further alleged that officials benefited from the difference between the awarded price and the price quoted by the second-lowest bidder, potentially causing a substantial loss to the national exchequer.
The committee also expressed concern over alleged attempts to conceal the issue during Departmental Accounts Committee proceedings.
According to the panel, officials who appeared before the Senate committee were not fully aware of the project’s actual facts and financial figures.
The committee therefore called for an independent investigation to determine whether procurement laws, bidding conditions, government rules or contractual provisions were violated.
The Senate committee also examined alleged irregularities in ADB 401B 2022 Lot II-A involving the procurement of ACSR Bunting Conductor.
It questioned the bid evaluation and qualification process and noted that officials from the Power Division, National Grid Company and NESPAK awarded the contract to the third-lowest bidder, M/s Newage Cables Pvt. Ltd., Lahore.
The committee described the procurement process as allegedly manipulated and estimated the resulting loss to the national exchequer at approximately Rs. 600 million.
The Senate panel has sought investigations by NAB and FIA into the alleged irregularities to establish responsibility and determine whether public funds were misused.
It also expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as continued noncompliance by the Economic Affairs Division and Power Division with the committee’s recommendations.
The committee emphasized the need for stronger oversight, transparency and accountability in foreign-funded development projects.
It said effective monitoring was essential to protect public resources, strengthen the integrity of Pakistan’s power sector and maintain the confidence of international development partners.
