Mohsin Siddiqui (Chief Reporter)

Today, the Senate Standing Committee on Power is slated to delve into two significant scandals surrounding power projects administered by the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), funded by the World Bank and Asia Development Bank.

Officials from NTDC and NESPAK have already admitted to the committee that the World Bank has issued “No Objection Letters” (NOLs) for the DASU transmission line project, albeit with minor discrepancies. Similarly, discrepancies have been highlighted by NESPAK in another project funded by the ADB.

Following concerns over the integrity of declared contracts for both projects, Senator SaifUllah Abro was removed from the chairman position. The Power Division was instructed to re-tender the projects.

The current Chairman of the Standing Committee, Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, has emphasized the committee’s commitment to transparency, stating that no attempts to conceal information will be tolerated.

The agenda for today’s session includes a comprehensive briefing by the Power Secretary on circular debt in the power sector. Additionally, the caretaker Minister for Power, alongside the Internal Inquiry Committee, will present findings regarding the awarding of contracts to Synohydro Corporation for Lot-I (Harbin Electric International) and Lot-II, as well as the consultant (GOPA Intec) for the construction of a 765 kV double-circuit transmission line from Daso Hydropower Station to Islamabad I/C grid station, and the ADB project ASCR Bunting Conductor Lot-IIA.