Irregularities, corruption in Kachhi Canal project: Ex-Wapda chairman, others found ''collectively responsible''

Former Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Lieutenant General Zulfiqar Ali Khan (retd), Member Water Ahmed Khan Bhatti, Member Power Asghar Ali Randhawa, Member Finance Javed Nizam and others have been found collectively responsible for alleged irregularities and corruption in the Kachhi Canal project. The Prime Minister had directed the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms to co-ordinate in the Technical and Financial Audit of project through the engagement of a professional firm.
The Technical and Financial Audit of Kachhi Canal Project prepared by the National Consulting for Business and Management Solutions (Pvt) Ltd (NCBMS) exclusively available with Business Recorder, notes that the project construction began immediately after ground-breaking ceremony without any proper feasibility study.
The audit report also fixed collective responsibility of NESPAK-led Consortium on Irfanullah Marwat, project manager at the time, all officials of NESPAK-led Consortium, Members (Water) Wapda and General Managers of Kachhi Canal project during their respective tenures. Based on the information provided by Wapda the following Members Water were held responsible for irregularities and corruption in the project during their tenures: Ahmed Khan Bhatti (from 2001 to 2003), M Amin(2003 to 2005), M Mushtaq Chaudhry (2005 to 2008), Syed Raghib Abbas Shah (2008 to 2012), Engineer Muhammad Ali Shah (10/9/2012 to 17/11/2012), Engineer Hasnain Afzal (2012 to 2014) and Muhammad Shoaib Iqbal (from 2014 to date).
The audit report also held the following general managers for irregularities and corruption during their tenures: Brigadier (Retd) Muhammad Iqbal, GM Project (South) (2002 to 2004), Zanir Hussein Zamir, General Manager (Central) 2004 to 2005) Waseem Ahmed , General Manager (Central) (2005 to 2007), Muhammad Ali Shah (2008 to 1/1/2008 to 9/10/2008), Mushtaq Ali Sangi (2008 to 2009), Manzoor Ahmed Gabole (2009 to 2011), Khanzada Kahn (2011 to 2012), Maula Bux Jamro (17/1/2012 to 11/1/2012), Raiaz Ahmed Mughal (2012 to 2014), Sherin Khan (19/3/2014 to 19/6/2014) and Ghulam Abbad Anjum, general manager (2014 to 31/5/2016).
Chief resident engineer, project directors, consultants/ engineers of NESPAK are also responsible during their respective tenures. The audit further held the following collectively responsible of alleged irregularities and corruption in the project: heads of project/implementation Wing of Planning Commission Lieutenant General Muhammad Zubair (retd), Member (I&M) (Head of Projects Wing) (from 2006 to 2010), Lieutenant General Shahid Niaz (retd), Member (I&M) Head of Projects Wing (2010 to 2013) and Muhammad Shahid Chaudhry, Member (I&M) head of Project Wing (2014 onward).
According to audit report, provision payments to contractors for unapproved variation orders were allegedly authorized by Shams-ud-Din Abbasi, Chief Engineer/PD on the recommendation of Ghulam Hussain Chandia, Construction Manager/the Engineer. The provisional payments to contractors for unapproved variation order were authorized by Tahir Hussain Khosa, Chief Engineer/PD on the recommendation of Iraf Ullah Marwat, Project Manger/the Engineer.
The Kachhi Canal Project commenced on October 04, 2002 with an original estimated cost of Rs 31.204 billion with the target date of completion of June 30, 2007. However, the cost as well as the date of completion of the project could not be adhered to and as such the project has been badly delayed and subjected to an abnormal increase in its cost which was revised upward to Rs 57.56 billion during 2013.
According to the audit report, fixing responsibility on individuals was not a part of terms of reference of the assignment and maintains that "therefore the individuals in the whole chain of command are not individually responsible for any lapse. However, they share collective responsibility for any lapse, irregularity or negligence".