Nandipur power project well within estimated cost, says Khawaja Asif
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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif termed the information circulating about the exceeding costs of Nandipur power project as incorrect and refuted the claims about the shutting down of power plant, Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.
Khawaja Asif said National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and the court have rejected these allegations, which are false as the plant is up and running.
"A complete investigation on the power plant has been prepared," he added.
The auditor general in a report has certified that Nandipur Power Project is within its the estimated cost of Rs58.416 billion.
Addressing a joint news conference along with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid, Asif said that the total cost of Nandipur is Rs58 billion.
He said the new team revived the project and it is now fully functional and producing 445 megawatts of electricity.
Nandipur power project since its inauguration last year has produced electricity worth Rs5.6 billion, he maintained.
The minister said the auditor general in his report also recommended shifting of the power plant to the LNG.
"The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines will lay down the pipeline for the purpose, which will help generate cheap and clean energy. This will also enhance the capacity of the power plant to 500 megawatts."
Asif said Nandipur power project suffered delay under the PPP government, but the incumbent government resumed work on the project in 2013 as per the PC-1 approved by the previous government.
"The operation and maintenance of the project will be outsourced through a transparent international bidding," he added.
Responding to a question, he said the prime minister is personally taking interest to settle the outstanding dues to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on account of net hydel profit.
It is to mention that, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered two separate audits — one by an audit firm of international repute and the other by the auditor general of Pakistan – into matters relating to the 525MW Nandipur power project.
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Comments (38) Closed
Nov 18, 2015 06:42pm
We must get an independent and authentic review of the in-house prepared report.
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Nov 18, 2015 06:55pm
If this guy said its 9am and the Sun is out i would still have to check..lies by the KG..
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Nov 18, 2015 07:16pm
Sorry Kh Asif who said accurate, its wrong, why not NAB should investigate there are lot of corruption in Nandipur project, let investigate of an independent body. The Plant is shut down due to mismanagement and fault supervision. If it is working than why there are load shedding.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:16pm
Mr Khawaja, If it is so transparent then why not get the financial and technical audit from ADB? Why do it from government's own organization which can be easily influenced? Why did you blame CM punjab if it is working according to plans? How about project cost reaching from 23billion to 58billion, with some independent organizations saying it is 82billion. Everybody knows plant worked for only 4 days then shut down, why lie to nation? Why not telling us that this project is producing most expensive per unit electricity compared to any other project. Answer is, massive corruption took place and next government will surely expose it.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:25pm
This government is famous in hiding facts , fudging figures and preparing reports in its favour by the officers appointed by them for this purpose. All the honest and God fearing officers have been fired or forced to leave on one pretext or the other from various organizations. The result is that every thing is good and there is no corruption, no incompetency or misuse of power any where so far as this government is concerned.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:32pm
@Dilectus : 100%, Khja Asif not giving correct position, the amount you quoted are correct project cost reaching from 23b to 58b, with some independent organizations saying it is 82b. How much commission and kick back made ? Pls explain, during PPP time you always go to SC, why not PPP & PTI financial advisers investigate these appointed by Senate, NA two members from each body no PML N. There are lot GAPLA.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:53pm
we hope that this man will be arrested in corruption case by nab.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:54pm
Is that a joke or what? Now you r trying to hide your corruption..
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Nov 18, 2015 07:56pm
and the crow is white as well
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Nov 18, 2015 07:59pm
Govt. Has To Anounse Nishane Imtiaz For Nandi Pur Power Plant MD
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Nov 18, 2015 08:09pm
Lies, Lies and more Lies
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Nov 18, 2015 08:13pm
What if the estimated costs are higher than the normal budgets?
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Nov 18, 2015 08:18pm
then why so buzz ?? why the audits and change of MD.
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Nov 18, 2015 08:27pm
Switching Nandipur to gas - how is that possible. With a harsh winter, gas shortages appear imminent. Where would they bring the additional gas from?
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Nov 18, 2015 08:27pm
Jhoot
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Nov 18, 2015 08:32pm
It's good to know that project is not dead yet.
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Nov 18, 2015 08:38pm
This is the joke of decade. You are hilarious Khuwaja Asif. Honestly this PML-N government think that people are fools. This overconfidence will hurt them. It did in 1999 and it will again hurt them. This corrupt to the core and incompetent PML-N government thinks they are above the law but guess what you are not. We are still blessed with honest and brave leaders like COAS Genral Raheel Shareef.
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Nov 18, 2015 08:40pm
Do not believe this insider; the project speaks for itself. Billions spend, what is the out come? People like him will keep on telling lies and make them appear truth. Need independent investigator. NAB might be of use; General Rahail should take this to military court , this deals with national fiancé and security. Please do not trust a single word out of this mister or other ministers...lies, lies, lies......
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Nov 18, 2015 08:48pm
@Mohammad
I agree, this matter needs to be taken to a military court. Khuwaja Asif was the guy who took PPP's governmet to the court on rental power project and now look how himself and his PML-N is doing corruption. Shameless people I must say.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:04pm
Yes right Khuwaja Asif,
For once say something that is not a lie, you and your PML-N is completely exposed infront of the people.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:07pm
The PML-N ministers and jiyalas must be complimented on being able to maintain a straight face when lying through their teeth. This is principally because they have no 'sharam' or 'haya' or 'ghairat'!
It would be very simple for DAWN to send a team to Nandipur to see for themselves and report to the nation if the plant IS actually operating.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:07pm
Yes we believe you :)
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Nov 18, 2015 09:15pm
he is still talking something about which entire world knows the truth... can't our SC take some sort of suo moto on Nandipur ?.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:18pm
if you lie once, people will ignore that on the pretext of slip of tongue...
if you lie twice, people will say he is lying lets see what next he comes up with....
if you lie third time, people will call him a liar...
if you lie fourth time, people will say he always speak lies....
if you lie every time all the time, people will say he is Kh Asif.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:27pm
A project well within the estimated cost? Thats a first.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:47pm
How can we believe this. It is a miracle that the project can in within budget when billions we skimmed by corruption
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Nov 18, 2015 10:04pm
Continuous incessant lying. Is there no possible mechanism to independently varify the costs and economic impact of a project of a certain size and magnitude ? 50-80 billions of public money spent on a project whose exact cost remains a mystery and its impact on economy and power shortage , at best debatable ? And people have to buy what this man is selling.
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Nov 18, 2015 11:22pm
I wish this governments culture of giving incorrect information changes to realistic approach of sharing the truth, and nothing but the truth.
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Nov 18, 2015 11:49pm
The comments show the shocking cynicism of our educated middle or upper middle classes. After the fall of PTI a section of society is in despair. This is a worrying trend. That's what some analysts were predicting for sometime.
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Nov 19, 2015 12:06am
Blatant lies one after another by PML-N govt. Sharam karo, Haya karo.. that is, if they have any?
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Nov 19, 2015 12:20am
So that they also estimated KICKBAG, Frauds and inefficiencies.
This is really good one.
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Nov 19, 2015 12:50am
@Dilectus Simple solution. PTI should take this case to the Supreme Court and expose PMLN corruption with solid proofs otherwise nothing will be proved just by the verbal accusations. From where the total cost figure of Rs. 88 or 85 billion came from. Has it come from the air or there is any background of it. If PTI proves the charges, a lot of ground will shift from under the PMLN feet.
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Nov 19, 2015 02:23am
What a blatant and glaring lie?
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Nov 19, 2015 02:28am
One wise man once said " you can catch a thief but can not catch a liar ".
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Nov 19, 2015 02:53am
What is referred to as estimated cost? Talk about original estimate. The situation of corruption is such that is hard to believe any body in the government.
These reports are nothing but public deception.
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Nov 19, 2015 03:42am
Khawaja Sahib
Yes; it will be completed within the allocated budget... but how much ONE TRILLION DOLLARS. Please do not play with the figures and mislead the country whose 88% population do not know mathematics except the people sitting in Ministry of Finance... whom we soon see somewhere else.
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Nov 19, 2015 03:44am
@Tariq Amir. I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle - From what KMA is saying to ground reality. Vast majority of comments here are anti governing body with no sign of optimism from pml-n.
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Nov 19, 2015 02:41pm
"a revised cost estimate of Rs65bn was submitted to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) early last month for inclusion in tariff setting."
How would Mr.Asif address the above.
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