Dam Fund: Supreme Court summons foreign remittances record

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has sought details from the State Bank of Pakistan about money sent from abroad for the dam fund, reported The News on Tuesday.

A five-member bench, led by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar heard the case on Monday.

During the hearing, the chief justice said the court will not allow any injustice in the dam affairs. He added the land issue for the dam should be resolved. “Completion of the dams on time would be a big achievement,” Justice Gulzar remarked.

WAPDA authorities who were present during the hearing told the court the contractor has started work on the Mohmand Dam. When asked about the latest situation, the additional attorney general said the approval for the dam is pending with the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).

The top judge further inquired when the construction work on the Bhasha Dam would be complete.

The WAPDA counsel said work has been started on the Diamer Bhasha Dam and work on the Mohmand Dam was underway as per schedule. He added that the contract for the Diamer Bhasha Dam has already been awarded.

“The first unit of the Mohmand Dam will be operational in 2024,” he told the court.

Moreover, State Bank officials said if the money for the dams was invested in the stock exchange, there would be a danger of loss in expectation of a big profit. “Where the dams money has been invested, there is a reasonable profit as well as security,” they said, adding that letters have been written to the embassies for submission of donations.

“Letters won’t work,” the chief justice said. “You will have to talk on phone.”

Justice Ijazul Ahsan added if a Pakistani wants to send money from a place where there is no Pakistani bank, the embassies concerned should be aware of money transfers.

The court then adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period. 

Originally published in The News