It merits mention that the canal project was initiated in 2003 at a cost of Rs31bn, but could not be completed in time due to the volatile security in the province. According to the documents available with Pakistan Today, a fact-finding commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, had recommended a probe by the FIA into the Kachhi Canal project. In the meanwhile, the NAB’s Multan director approached the FIA to transfer the record of the package-IV of the Kachhi Canal as the matter was already under inquiry with the NAB. The NAB, in its response, directed to transfer the subject inquiry to it as stipulated under Section-18 (d) of the NAB Ordinance, 1999. “Chairman NAB is empowered under Section-18 (d) of the NAO 1999 to transfer any inquiry from any Authority to the NAB.

Source: Pakistan Today April 16, 2020 15:30 UTC