ISLAMABAD – The government is contemplating legal action against the consultants of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) following repeated structural faults in the Rs500 billion project, which has deprived the country of an affordable and environmentally friendly power supply.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to make a final decision after consultations with stakeholders, as a special committee examines the possibility of holding contractors accountable for cracks in the headrace tunnel of the 969MW project near Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir.
The project’s consulting joint venture includes MWH USA (lead firm), NORPLAN (Norway), NESPAK, ACE, and NDC of Pakistan. The contractor is a consortium of two Chinese firms — CGGC and CMEC.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting of the special committee tasked with finalizing recommendations for rehabilitating and operationalizing the project, which has been non-functional since May 2. The meeting also explored legal avenues for accountability.
Legal experts, including the Attorney General of Pakistan and the Secretary for Law and Justice, emphasized the need for robust legal groundwork. Recommendations included engaging international experts to authenticate findings, given the involvement of a US-based lead consulting firm, to mitigate international complications.
The investigation committee, led by former federal secretary Shahid Khan, identified significant lapses by consultants, prompting calls for accountability. However, contractors’ roles are also under scrutiny, with suggestions to provide them a chance to defend their positions.
Minister Iqbal stressed the urgency of completing investigations and establishing clear accountability mechanisms for future projects of this scale. He directed the engagement of international experts and the timely completion of remedial measures.
The recommendations and investigation findings will be presented to the prime minister for further action.
Story by Khaleeq Kiani
