By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has uncovered alleged irregularities worth billions of rupees in a Rs27bn solar energy project in Sindh, raising concerns over mismanagement and potential corruption in a program intended to provide renewable energy to low-income households.
The committee chairman, Saifullah Abro, said during the session that NGOs had been selected without proper tendering procedures, with contracts reportedly awarded to preferred individuals. He highlighted a striking discrepancy in costs, noting that solar panels which should have cost Rs21,000 were reportedly procured at Rs60,000, suggesting deliberate manipulation to benefit certain parties.
Officials from Sindh’s Planning Division briefed the committee, presenting evidence of financial irregularities across multiple levels of the project. They said the scheme, which aimed to supply solar panels to poor households, had already been subject to two separate inquiries, but significant gaps and irregularities remained.
According to the briefing, the project was implemented through NGOs, where widespread discrepancies were observed in procurement, selection processes and execution, undermining both transparency and the intended social impact. The committee has called for the project secretary to appear in the next session with all relevant records for further scrutiny.
The revelations underscore persistent challenges in ensuring accountability in large-scale development initiatives and the need for stronger oversight mechanisms in federally and provincially supported renewable energy programs.
