Senate panel flags Rs9 billion interest cost, delays in Dasu-Islamabad transmission line

A Senate standing committee on economic affairs, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, raised concerns on Friday over delays and financial handling in the 765kV Dasu-Islamabad transmission line, according to Profit by Pakistan Today. Members heard that interest of Rs9 billion has been paid so far, while donors have provided Rs76 billion. Abro put the interest rate on the financing at 12% and asked how heavy the resulting burden was because of the holdups.

Officials told the panel that the Power Division asked for Rs19 billion last year for Dasu, and Rs17 billion of that was granted. Another Rs12 billion was released in the past few days, and Senator Kamil Ali Agha asked how much interest it would add. The committee also voiced dissatisfaction with construction pace and asked whether the line could be finished within two years at the current rate.

Lawmakers also questioned why imported equipment reached sites before towers were built. Officials said a high-level body of several federal ministers has been set up to monitor the line. The panel also examined Rs26 million linked to a fraudulent will document, and Rs10 billion has been recovered so far, but Abro asked why the rest had not been recovered. The chairman had initially sought an FIA referral, but the committee gave the department a final chance to get a detailed briefing before deciding further action.