A reputed chartered accountants firm has started third-party audits of the controversial 425MW Nandipur Power project amid allegations of corruption and over Rs 80 billion loss to the national exchequer. According to reports, representatives of the company went to the site of the project, Nandipur, about 15 kilometers from Gujranwala on Sialkot Road, on Monday to start their work. The Managing Director of the project received auditors and presented to them the relevant record for scrutiny.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered the Ministry of Water and Power to conduct third-party audits of the failed project on the demand of opposition parties. Earlier, the Ministry of Water and Power had written a letter to the Auditor General of Pakistan to conduct the audit with three terms of reference: (i) reasons behind the increase in cost of project; (ii) amount that has been spent so far; and (iii) whether or not the Board, administration of the project and the contractor fulfilled their responsibilities. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and Chairman Public Accounts Committee, Khursheed Shah, has sought details of the Auditor General's report.