Key Takeaways
- The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs accused the World Bank of increasing the cost of the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project by Rs. 14 billion.
- Committee members argued that the lender should not influence project design and implementation, which they said could save Pakistan significant funds.
- No response from the World Bank was received at the time of press.
The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has accused the World Bank of inflating the cost of the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project by nearly Rs. 14 billion, according to a report in ProPakistani.
During a meeting held on Friday, lawmakers questioned whether the lender exceeded its financing role by influencing the project’s design and implementation, arguing that such decisions should be left to Pakistan's relevant authorities.
Committee Chairman Senator Aamir Khan alleged that changes introduced under external pressure had significantly increased the project’s cost. He stated that if the project proceeded under its original design, Pakistan could save around Rs. 14 billion.
The committee chairman also claimed that similar issues had emerged previously over financing conditions for the Peshawar–Torkham project and urged the government to intervene in this case as well.
During the meeting, officials informed lawmakers that the project’s estimated cost had risen substantially. The Chairman of the Planning and Development Department told lawmakers that the project was now expected to cost nearly twice its original estimate.
One senator argued that Pakistan should not accept what he described as “blackmail” in externally financed development projects. He maintained that the World Bank's role should be limited to approving or declining financing, rather than shaping a project’s technical design or implementation.
Following the discussion, the committee directed the Economic Affairs Division to engage with the World Bank and convene a meeting to address the concerns raised during the session. No response from the World Bank regarding the allegations was presented during the committee meeting.
