Senate suspects political influence in Sindh solar distribution

The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs in Pakistan has raised concerns about the distribution of subsidized solar systems in Sindh. The committee suspects that political influence may be affecting the process. They believe that the distribution should follow the poverty rankings of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). During a recent meeting, Senator Saifullah Abro criticized the delays in providing a list of beneficiaries. He noted that out of 200,000 beneficiaries, only 6,000 would be selected from a specific pay category. Abro expressed frustration that four months had passed without the committee receiving the list. The committee emphasized that subsidies should go to the most needy individuals, specifically those with a BISP score between zero and 20. The committee also reviewed flood rehabilitation projects in Sindh and Balochistan. They discovered that 17 projects had been completed, with funding from various international sources. Additionally, there are 37 ongoing projects costing an estimated $1.4 billion. Senator Abro suggested pausing new proposals from Balochistan because its representatives did not attend previous meetings. The committee has asked for complete information on the executed projects and their tendering processes to be presented at their next meeting.