seek report report
SIND calls for transparency in flood rehabilitation projects in Sindh
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee for Economic Affairs was expressed on Thursday over the distribution of subsidy system solar system in Sindh, which is suspected of political influence rather than implementing the poverty rating of the Benzier Income Support Program (BISP).
The panel has sought a detailed report for review.
The meeting, headed by PTI Senator Saifullah Awabar, also reviewed the foreign financing rehabilitation plans in Sindh and Balochistan, in which the authorities were instructed to provide full details of the tendering process.
Reviewing the Sindh solar power project, Senator Ayabar criticized the delay in presenting a list of beneficiaries. He said that the committee has been told that 6,000 out of 200,000 private beneficiaries will be selected for the second category of the BISP list due to the ability to pay Rs 6,000.
“However, four months have passed, and the list has not been presented to the committee,” an official statement cited them.
The committee emphasized that solar subsidy should be allocated to the most deserving – who have a BISP score between zero and 20 – instead of individuals in the secondary category.
Senator eyebrows observed, “The ministry’s hesitation in providing the list clearly indicates that the distribution is on a political basis.” Therefore, the meeting was directed by the officials to present a list of beneficiaries with the details of the tendering process for solar companies at the next meeting.
Flood maintenance projects
The meeting also discussed the emergency rehabilitation relief projects of floods conducted by Sindh and Balochistan in collaboration with multilateral and bilateral partners and UN agencies.
Officials told the committee that a total of 17 projects have been completed under the flood emergency rehabilitation aid. One of these projects was financed by the Islamic Development Bank and 16 were financed by the European Union.
In addition, there are 37 projects under the same program, which is estimated at $ 1.399 billion. Five of them are financed by the World Bank, four through the Asian Development Bank, one through an Islamic Development Bank, three, by Saudi Fund for Development, and 24 by the European Union.
Senator Awra, while reviewing the plans, recommended that the Economic Affairs Division stopped the proposals coming from Balochistan, as the province’s representatives failed to appear before the committee despite being summoned several times.
The committee also directed the officials to provide full details of the projects executed in Sindh with their tendering process at the next meeting.
Dawn, appeared on March 21, 2025
