• Body refers procurement scandals and illegal decisions to NAB, FIA
• Land acquisition delay cited as systemic problem for over a decade
• PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan claims recovery of Rs118bn in two months

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday highlighted the glaring inefficiencies and massive financial mismanagement in key national hydropower projects.

A meeting of the PAC, chaired by MNA Junaid Akbar Khan, reviewed audit objections related to the Ministry of Water Resources. Audit officials raised concern over the Dassu Hydropower Project, where changes in the scope of work had led to significant increases in the contract cost. Despite years of planning, land acquisition and resettlement remain incomplete, drawing sharp criticism from committee members.

“HaIf the issues weren’t resolved, why was the project initiated?” questioned chairman PAC, Mr Akbar.

Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza responded by shifting responsibility to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, stating that land transfer had still not been executed. “Land settlement issues have not been completed in the last 13 years,” he said describing the land acquisition a........

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