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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt sets up probe into NJHP tunnel collapse
Listen to article Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted an inquiry commission to take legal action against those responsible for the collapse of the tunnel at the Rs500 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP). Speaking at a press conference, Iqbal said the commission, headed by a retired judge, was formed on the basis of findings from two separate committees. He added that the commission will hear those involved before initiating legal proceedings. According to the terms of reference (ToRs), the commission will recommend legal, administrative, and financial actions against those responsible. It will categorise accountability as gross negligence, procedural misconduct, or potential criminal liability as the case may be, reads a notification. Iqbal termed the failure of the NJHP an "expensive and glaring mistake". He said that the restoration of the 969 megawatts project that is closed since May last year, was still not in sight as the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) had not yet submitted the PC-I for the revival. In May this year, Water Resources Minister Muhammad Moeen had informed the National Assembly that the restoration process of the NJHRP was expected to take an additional two years to complete. A few months ago, Wapda had proposed to the government that either the tunnel should be rebuilt with an estimated cost of Rs250-300 billion or it should be repaired by spending around Rs20 billion. The government had also engaged an international panel of experts (IPOE) to investigate the structural issues affecting the project's Head Race Tunnel (HRT). The panel was tasked with identifying the causes of recent challenges. The report highlighted areas of the tunnel floor that required attention, alongside recommendations for enhanced ventilation, lighting, and worker safety measures. In May this year, the federal cabinet approved to setup a commission of inquiry under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017, to investigate the NJHP. Justice (retd) Tariq Abbasi is the chairman of the inquiry commission, which has time till August 20 to finalise its report, according to the notification. Other members include Shahid Khan and the secretaries of Establishment Division, Water Resources Division and the Engineer-in-Chief of Pak Army. The ToRs of the commission entail a sequential analysis of all key decisions in planning, design, execution, and monitoring; establishing clear accountability for omissions, delays, and misjudgements that led to the tunnel collapse. The commission has been tasked to verify compliance with engineering standards, project management protocols, and directives from Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) and the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and other regulatory bodies. It is required to identify the responsible individuals and determine whether failures in geological assessments, tunnel lining, and water pressure management resulted from negligence, incompetence, or deliberate misconduct, linking specific lapses to responsible officials. The commission is assessing the role of oversight bodies, consultants, and contractors to identify failures in risk mitigation, contractual obligations, or misleading assurances, and fixing responsibility accordingly. At the press conference, Iqbal also spoke about the prevailing economic conditions and the achievements of this government in the past one year. He said that the government successfully brought inflation down to an average of 4.5% — the lowest since 2016. "Effective fiscal consolidation and external sector stability underscore Pakistan's stronger-than-expected recovery trajectory, he said, adding that the economic performance reflected prudent economic management and signals growing confidence in Pakistan's ability to navigate external shocks and sustain a path towards stability and inclusive growth. To a question about the government's inability to meet investment targets, the minister said that the investors were worried about Pakistan's macroeconomic stability and judicial challenges. He added that after bringing political and economic stability and making constitutional changes through the 26th amendment, the investors' confidence has been restored. He expressed the hope that the foreign investment would start picking up from this fiscal year. Pakistan's macroeconomic performance in FY2025 demonstrated resilience despite global headwinds, with GDP growth rising to 2.7% and inflation dropping sharply to an average of 4.5%, reads the development update report that the Planning Ministry released on Thursday. It added that the government's strategic focus on high-impact, inclusive, and export-led projects under the PSDP aligns with "Uraan Pakistan" priorities, emphasising exports, digitalisation, green growth, energy security, and social equity.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Police arrest 149 in raid on large scam call centre
Police arrested 149 people – including 71 foreigners, mostly Chinese – in a raid on a scam call centre, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency said. 'During the raid, a large call centre was uncovered, which was involved in Ponzi schemes and investment fraud,' the agency said in a statement. 'Through this fraudulent network, the public was being deceived and vast sums of money were being illegally collected.' The agency said they were acting on a tip-off about the network, operating in the city of Faisalabad, a manufacturing centre. It said the raid was at the residence of Tasheen Awan, the son of the former chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority, a government agency. All those arrested were in custody, including 78 Pakistanis and 48 Chinese, as well as citizens from Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Myanmar. About 18 of the total were women, it added. — AFP
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Pakistan police arrest 149, including 71 foreigners, in scam centre raid
Pakistan police arrested 149 people -- including 71 foreigners, mostly Chinese -- in a raid on a scam call centre, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency said on Thursday. "During the raid, a large call centre was uncovered, which was involved in Ponzi schemes and investment fraud," the agency said in a statement. "Through this fraudulent network, the public was being deceived and vast sums of money were being illegally collected." The agency said they were acting on a tip-off about the network, operating in the city of Faisalabad, a manufacturing centre in the east of the country. It said the raid was at the residence of Tasheen Awan, the son of the former chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority, a government agency. All those arrested were in custody, including 78 Pakistanis and 48 Chinese, as well as citizens from Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Myanmar. Some 18 of the 149 were women, it added. Agence France-Presse
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Officials in awe as major rivers in key region show remarkable rise: 'This is already being felt at local population level'
Water levels in Pakistan's major rivers and dams have stabilized just in time for the summer surge. The Water and Power Development Authority released new data confirming healthy water supply conditions that are crucial for irrigation and power generation during the high-demand season, Minute Mirror reported. This steady flow means relief for millions of farmers and families who depend on these waters to grow crops and keep the lights on when temperatures soar. The Indus River, which forms the backbone of Pakistan's water system, is carrying an impressive 108,400 cubic feet of water per second, with 82,000 cusecs flowing downstream, right on track with what experts expect this time of year. Other vital rivers such as the Jhelum and Chenab are also holding strong, delivering the right amounts to sustain agriculture across Punjab and beyond. Meanwhile, key reservoirs are acting as reliable water banks. Pakistan's largest, the Tarbela Dam, is holding 1.51 million acre-feet of water, while Mangla Dam follows closely with about 1.48 MAF. Together with Chashma Reservoir's 0.263 MAF, these reserves provide a vital buffer that secures both agriculture and hydropower production for the months ahead. This positive outlook comes amid ongoing challenges. On April 23, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, an agreement that allowed India and Pakistan to share water from the Indus Basin. According to Time, he declared that "India's water will be used for India's interests," sparking concern across Pakistan's already water-stressed regions. Pakistan's water system is already under intense pressure from extreme weather caused by the changing climate. Superfloods, melting glaciers, and prolonged droughts have made the timing of water flows increasingly erratic. After 2022 floods killed more than 1,700 people, over 10 million were left without access to safe drinking water. "There's been quite a lot of difficulty for local populations to have access to water on a consistent basis," Bhargabi Bharadwaj, a research associate at the Environment and Society Centre at Chatham House, told Time. "This is already being felt at local population level, even scrapping this most recent escalation on the Indus Water Treaty agreement." Still, WAPDA's careful monitoring and planning offer a measure of stability in uncertain times. With rivers flowing steadily and reservoirs stocked, Pakistan enters the summer season with a critical advantage — not only for growing food and keeping the power on, but also for advancing a more sustainable future powered by hydropower. Amid rising regional tensions and environmental stress, the country's water system remains a pillar of both resilience and hope. Do you take steps to conserve water at home? All the time Usually Sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Express Tribune
01-06-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Global water organisation launched to tackle crisis
The newly established Global Water Organisation (GWO) has officially commenced operations from its headquarters in Riyadh, following the signing of its founding charter by eight nations including Pakistan during an inaugural meeting in the Saudi capital. According to a statement from the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on Sunday, the launching event "marked a major milestone in fostering international collaboration to address global water challenges." Federal Minister for Water Resources Mueen Wattoo represented Pakistan at the invitation of Saudi Arabia Minister of Environment Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadley to share the country's perspective. "Pakistan along with other founding members signed the GWO charter, formally committing to the organisation's shared vision of strengthening international cooperation on water scarcity, sustainable resource management, and climate resilience, particularly in arid and water-stressed regions," it said. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the organisation brings together founding members from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain, Greece, Senegal, Pakistan, and Mauritania, united by a shared commitment to sustainable water resource management.
