Sindh Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro addressing a press conference. PHOTO: ONLINE
HYDERABAD:
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Tuesday criticised the Sindh Irrigation Department for labelling the current design of the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) Phase II project as unfeasible after spending nearly Rs40 billion.
Addressing PPP workers in Kambar Shahdadkot, Khuhro said irrigation officials are now demanding Rs200 billion for a redesigned project. He stressed that the PAC has instructed the department to engage a reputable consultant before proceeding, to ensure efficiency, transparency, and flawless execution.
“The RBOD is a critical mega-drain for Sindh, but this time the project must be implemented without errors,” Khuhro said.
The RBOD project was initiated by former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2001 at a cost of Rs14 billion. Phase II, spanning 273 kilometres, is designed to carry effluent from Sehwan in Jamshoro district to the sea via Gharo Creek, easing the burden on Manchar Lake, the country’s largest water body.
Phase II, originally scheduled for completion in 2005, was stalled for nearly a decade. Its renewed PC-I raised the cost to Rs61.985 billion, with Rs40 billion already spent by 2017, yet the project remains incomplete.
The National Accountability Bureau and Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment have investigated alleged corruption related to the project.
Phases I and III were executed by the Water and Power Development Authority, while Phase II fell under the Sindh government’s irrigation department. Khuhro highlighted that around Rs3.5 billion of the Rs44 billion federal allocation remains unused and should be deployed to resume the project. He added that the PAC had recommended hiring a reputable consultant as early as August 2025.
