ISLAMABAD: The government seemed reluctant to drag the World Bank in the controversy related to the ouster of a Chinese firm from the Dasu dam project as its senior law officer on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the government would oppose impleading the bank in the case.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Mohammad Waqar Rana, during the hearing of an appeal filed by M/S Power Construction Corporation of China against its disqualification from the Dasu dam project, told the apex court that the “federal government in view of its repercussions and international commitments will oppose impleading the World Bank as party in the case”.

On Sept 3, the court asked the federal government to take up with the World Bank the matter of ousting the Chinese firm from the contract for construction of civil works on Stage-I of the Dasu dam project.

Wapda had invited sealed bids from eligible bidders for the construction of civil works on Stage-I of the Dasu dam project to which pre-qualification of Power Construction Corporation of China and another Chinese company were finalised. However, the corporation alleged that Wapda had barred it from taking part in the bidding process on the dictation of the World Bank.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2016