ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has expressed serious concern over delays in Wapda’s hydropower projects and directed authorities to fix responsibility and submit details of the financial burden caused by cost overruns.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, was attended by Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan, Senator Rubina Khalid and senior officials of federal and provincial departments.

The panel reviewed progress, issues, reasons for delays, cost escalations and utilisation of funds for Wapda’s ongoing projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. Projects in Punjab and Balochistan had been reviewed in the previous meeting.

Officials of the Ministry of Water Resources and Wapda briefed the committee that the project was being financed through the World Bank, foreign and local commercial loans, and Wapda’s equity. They attributed delays to land acquisition issues from 2015 to 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21, security incidents from 2022-24, and subsequent multiple design changes.

Senator Mehdi expressed grave concern over the prolonged delay, noting that despite repeated letters to the provincial government, the project remained stalled for five years, leading to a significant increase in cost and a heavy burden on the national exchequer. “Twelve years have passed since the project was launched, but its completion date is still not clear,” he said.

Officials said about 54 per cent of the work on Mohmand Dam had been completed. They said delays in land acquisition and design changes made to ensure dam safety had pushed the completion date to June 2028. The convener questioned why the design was repeatedly changed despite hiring consultants. “Such changes not only delay projects but also put additional financial burden on government resources,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026