ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on Monday asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate alleged irregularities involving Rs1.282 billion. These irregularities concern the 765kV Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project.
The committee, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, also sought action over a separate Asian Development Bank-funded conductor procurement. In this case, it estimated a loss of about Rs600 million to the national exchequer.
In the Dasu-Islamabad project’s Lot-IV, the committee said that Rs1.282 billion, relating to taxes and duties excluded from the bid evaluation, was subsequently incorporated into the contract price awarded to M/S NWEPDI-TBEA (JV). Therefore, it called for an independent investigation to determine whether procurement rules, bidding conditions or contractual provisions were violated.
The committee had raised the same Rs1.282 billion issue in earlier meetings. In May, the Senate’s official record said the panel had already recommended a referral to the NAB and the FIA. Additionally, it had complained about non-compliance with its directions.
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The panel also examined ADB-401B-2022 Lot II-A, involving procurement of ACSR Bunting Conductors. It alleged that officials of the Power Division, the National Grid Company (NGC; formerly NTDC), and NESPAK awarded the contract to M/S Newage Cables (Pvt.). Ltd. through a flawed procurement process.
Previous Senate proceedings had also questioned the evaluation of the conductor tender. They sought detailed scrutiny of procurement records and correspondence with the ADB.
The committee expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as continued non-compliance by the Economic Affairs Division and Power Division. It called for responsibility to be fixed in accordance with law.
