Insiders in the Ministry of Water Resources argue that there is panic in the federal government especially in Ministry of Water Resources after this controversy. Some officials want clearance of bid from anti graft agency so that work on project can begin without any doubt at any level. However, one segment of officials including the Minister say that the project should start, come what may.
Prime Minister's Advisor on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, the owner of M/s Descon who resigned as Director of the company when he accepted the public office, is reportedly disturbed at this development. He is accompanying the Prime Minister during his official visit to Turkey.
The political opponents of Prime Minister Imran Khan have upped the pressure on the federal government to scrap the controversial bid saying that it is a clear conflict of interest. However, Lt. General Muzammal Hussain (retired) who had been appointed Chairman Wapda by the then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, is defending the bid's acceptance.
On Thursday, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda rejected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) calls to cancel the Mohmand Dam bid.
"The elements demanding that the contract be cancelled are conspiring against the construction of dams," said Vawda who faced strong reaction on January 2, 2019 when he used questionable language in reaction to a question raised by a senior journalist.
The Minister stated, "I will foil every conspiracy." Claiming that PML-N and PPP are conspiring against the dam, Vawda said these elements want to make the construction of the dam controversial and hinder progress in the country.
The Minister who has become a "persona non grata" for the opposition due to his "controversial remarks" further stated that dams are essential for the country and "I will not back off from their construction".
Vawda further said, "the entire process of awarding the contract was based on merit. If anyone wants to investigate the process then they can go ahead." Reiterating that he "will not back off from the construction of the dam at any cost", the Federal Minister for Water said, "We are not those who work for commission."
"We are not even those who buy Avenfield apartments or make sugar mills while sitting at home," he added. On January 2, 2019, Abdul Razak Dawood issued a clarification stating that he had resigned from all posts in his companies before becoming part of the cabinet. He further stated that before joining the government he had informed Imran Khan that his company had won the bid for Mohamand Dam.
"The disclosure had also identified Mohmand Dam project for which Descon had already bid before Abdul Razak Dawoods joined the cabinet. The Prime Minister felt that this pending project should not prevent Mr. Dawood from joining the cabinet," said an statement issued by a spokesperson of Prime Minister's Advisor.
