Blame game: ‘PTI govt delayed completion of hydropower projects’

PML-N MNA says K-P govt lost Rs30.5b in stock market

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government delayed completion of several hydropower projects over widespread mismanagement and incompetence.

This was said by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Daniyal Aziz. Addressing a press conference at a hotel in the city, the lawmaker said the K-P government lost Rs30.5 billion from its share of net hydel profits in the stock market.

“Around Rs363 billion has been embezzled by PTI leaders from the fund,” he said.

He urged Governor Mehtab Ahmad Khan to initiate an investigation into the case.

“Projects that were supposed to be launched in 2013, are still present on paper only,” he said, adding other projects in Dir, Shangla and the Hazara Division have already been shelved for good.

“The Machai and Ranolai hydropower plants were to be completed in March. They were initially slated for June but are yet to see the light of day.”

He said had the government ensured completion of projects worth 2,573 megawatts that “disappeared” from its white paper, the country’s power crisis could have been solved.

“Projects like the 1,648 megawatt plant in Chitral, 207 megawatt in Dir, 14 megawatt in Shangla, 10 megawatt in Battagram, 595 megawatt in Mansehra and 18 megawatt in Swabi have just vanished into thin air,” he added.

Also speaking on the occasion, PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said before their visit, they thought K-P would have changed completely. “Unfortunately, things are the same as they were 10 years ago.”

Meanwhile Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani lashed out at the federal government and rejected all allegations levelled by Aziz.
“He told the biggest  lie ever,” he said. Ghani challenged them to prove their charges. “These people were sent to sling mud at the PTI government.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2015.