Senate committee seeks probe into Rs1.282bn irregularities in Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line

Must ReadPakistanSenate committee seeks probe into Rs1.282bn irregularities in Dasu-Islamabad Transmission LineBy Shoaib Nizami-Aug 24, 2026Add ARY News on GoogleSenate committee seeks probe into Rs1.282bn irregularities in Dasu-Islamabad Transmission LineAAResizeISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on Monday wrote to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities involving Rs1.282 billion in the 765kV Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project. The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs met under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro. The committee recommended an investigation and appropriate action regarding what it described as serious irregularities in the 765kV Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project (Lot-IV) and ADB-401B-2022 Lot II-A (ACSR Bunting Conductor). The committee examined the two foreign-funded power sector projects and, following extensive deliberations with representatives of the Economic Affairs Division, Power Division, National Grid Company (NGC), NESPAK and other relevant stakeholders, expressed serious concerns over transparency, accountability, compliance with procurement requirements and the protection of public funds. According to the committee’s letter, in the case of the 765kV Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project (Lot-IV), an amount of Rs1.282 billion, reportedly relating to taxes and duties that were expressly excluded from bid evaluation, was subsequently incorporated into the price awarded to M/s NWEPDI-TBEA (JV). The committee noted that the bidding documents explicitly stated that these taxes and duties would not form part of the bid evaluation. It alleged that officials of the Power Division, the Board of Directors and the National Grid Company were reluctant to rectify this irregularity and took advantage of difference from the price of second lowest bidder. The committee said the alleged irregularity r...