LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Friday directed Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda and Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar to give a time frame for the construction of Nai Guj dam in Dadu, Sindh.

Both ministers appeared before a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

The chief justice told the ministers that an officer of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) had informed the bench during the last hearing that a revised PC-1 for the construction of the dam had been issued and its scrutiny by relevant ministries was awaited. The officer had further stated that with the approval of the ministries, the matter would be placed before the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for a final go-ahead.

“Now you tell the court how much time is required for the construction [of the dam],” the chief justice asked the ministers.

Mr Bakhtiar came to the rostrum and told the bench that the projects of water resources were the top priority of the government. He said that Rs12 billion from the public exchequer had already been spent on Nai Gaj dam. He said there were many other water projects that could be considered on merit.

Vawda says revised PC-1 of project will be forwarded to planning ministry next week

At this, the chief justice asked the minister to submit a list of the projects in the pipeline.

About the Nai Gaj dam, Mr Bakhtiar said his ministry was yet to receive the revised PC-1 officially.

Chief Justice Nisar observed that departmental delays had marred the performance of the government. He noted that in Punjab as well many important summaries remained pending before the cabinet unless the court took notice.

Mr Bakhtiar said that being the minister for planning and development, he also headed the Central Development Working Party (CDWP). However, he said the competence of the CDWP to approve a project was not more than Rs3bn and that Ecnec would give approval for the dam. Since Finance Minister Asad Umar was not available to attend the proceedings, Mr Bakhtiar said he would convey the court’s order to the minister.

Mr Vawda informed the court that he had received the revised PC-1 of the Nai Gaj dam and would forward it to the planning and development ministry by next week after examination.

Chief Justice Nisar reminded the ministers that they had an advantage as not only the government but the court was supporting them on the water issue.

The bench adjourned the hearing till Jan 4 and directed the ministers to submit a progress report on the issue.

Talking to reporters outside the SC Lahore registry, Mr Vawda alleged that MQM-London chief Altaf Hussain was involved in the murder of former MPA Syed Ali Raza Abidi in Karachi. He said the government would bring the killers to justice at any cost.

He said the cases against Asif Ali Zardari were made during the government of Nawaz Sharif and claimed that Mr Zardari had used the word “Ladla” (blue-eyed) for Mr Sharif and his remarks were not directed at the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Mr Vawda said he never thought that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would become a spokesman for the Omni Group. He said the law was equal for everyone. “If Bilawal is innocent, he will get cleared of charges,” added the minister.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018