Huge spending, no completion: NA orders K-IV project investigation

Islamabad: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources ordered an investigation into the K-IV project’s non-completion despite huge expenditure, placing the delayed project under fresh parliamentary scrutiny.

The committee appointed a subcommittee under MNA Muhammad Idrees to investigate why the K-IV project has not been completed despite the large amount of money already spent on it.

The decision was taken during the 13th meeting of the Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Ahmad Atteeq Anwer at Parliament House.

The committee gave the subcommittee the task of looking into the reasons behind the delay and examining the spending on the project.

The K-IV project is now facing a formal parliamentary investigation as lawmakers seek answers over its non-completion despite heavy expenditure.

The committee also discussed the proposed WAPDA Security Force Act. Chairman WAPDA told lawmakers that the WAPDA Security Force is responsible for protecting important national assets, scattered WAPDA installations and national and foreign personnel working on WAPDA projects.

He said the proposed law would give the force legal powers and a proper system to perform these duties. The committee learned that the WAPDA Act of 1958 currently lacks legal provisions covering the creation, area of authority, powers or functions of the security setup.

After detailed discussion, the committee deferred the WAPDA Security Force Bill until its next meeting. The committee also discussed the long standing problems of people affected by the construction of Tarbela Dam.

MNA Babar Nawaz Khan raised the issue of establishing a Tarbela Dam Authority to deal with the settlement and rehabilitation of the dam affectees. After discussion, the committee said a clear and legally workable system was needed to address their long standing concerns.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of Water Resources propose an appropriate legal way forward to resolve the matter effectively.

The committee’s decision to investigate the K-IV project places fresh focus on a major water project that lawmakers say remains incomplete despite huge expenditure.