Govt not serious in building dam, top judge tells finance minister

We do not want to dictate government but social issues should be resolved at the earliest, says Justice Nisar

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar expressed concerns over the government’s commitment to the construction of the Naj Gaj Dam and its earnestness to resolve the country’s water crisis.

During an exchange with Finance Minister Asad Umar on Tuesday while hearing a case, the chief justice remarked that a lack of coordination between institutions was hampering the pace of work.

A three-judge Supreme Court bench last year had taken up a petition moved through senior counsel Rasheed A. Razvi highlighting hurdles in the way of Nai Gaj Dam’s construction.



The outgoing chief justice had expressed his disappointment that the matter will now be stuck with the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) before summoning Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan, Minister for Finance Asad Umar and the cabinet secretary.

Upon the minister’s appearance before the bench following a delay due to other engagements, the chief justice addressed him, saying: "I don't think the government is serious regarding the building of the dam."

"This issue came under my knowledge when it was presented in the Ecnec (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council)," the finance minister explained to the apex court. "An application regarding the Nai Gaj Dam was presented in Ecnec yesterday and it has been referred to the cabinet."

Justice Nisar questioned the coordination between government institutions and their commitment to the resolution of the water crisis. He also questioned the sincerity of the bureaucracy as well as the government. "Your love for this country has diminished. The bureaucracy does not have the passion and intention to work.

"We do not want to dictate this government. We do not want to run this government either. We have [only] worked on the fundamental rights of the people."

In response, the finance minister acknowledged the chief justice's work and told him that "history will remember you in glowing terms."

Umar also assured the judge that the Nai Gaj Dam's matter will be discussed during an Ecnec session on Jan 25.

Adjourning the hearing for two weeks, the bench instructed the minister to keep the court informed regarding dam-related decisions taken in Ecnec immediately after its scheduled session.

Outside the court, the finance minister applauded the chief justice’s passion and commitment to get dams built and get the water crisis resolved. .



When reminded by media of the chief justice's remarks regarding lack of coordination between government institutions, Umar did not rule out the possibility. "It is possible that we may have been lacking on this issue," he said.

During the same briefing, the finance minister said that the upcoming mini-budget, set to be presented on Jan 23, will not increase taxes but instead boost exports. "The mini-budget will result in the increase in the flow of investment and business," he remarked.

The finance minister was also quizzed over the government’s recent decision to shelve a major power project pushed by the PML-N regime under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

When asked if plans were afoot to shut down any other projects associated with the mega project, the finance minister said it were those projects that had never been finalised.