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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has rejected a costly report on the collapse of the Neelam- Jhelum Hydro Power Project tunnel, valued at Rs100 million, after discovering that its findings and recommendations were readily available on the Artificial intelligence tool, ChatGPT.
This shocking revelation came to light during an official meeting convened on Friday to investigate the reasons behind the catastrophic failure of the Rs500 billion hydropower project and identify those accountable for the tunnel’s consecutive collapse.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal had called the meeting following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s clear instructions to hold people accountable for the collapse.
However, instead of taking action against those responsible, the meeting proposed two options: rebuilding the tunnel at an estimated cost of Rs250-300 billion or repairing it for Rs20 billion. Wapda officials admitted that the repair work may only last six years, sparking concerns about the project’s long-term viability.
The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, a 969 MW plant, was constructed for Rs500 billion to provide reliable power and boost socio-economic development.
However, its repeated failures have raised concerns about the project’s management and accountability. An independent panel of experts had previously raised red flags about the headrace tunnel and recommended preventive measures that were not implemented before the project’s shutdown in May.
During the meeting, Wapda officials and experts presented their findings, but Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal swiftly opened his ChatGPT account, revealing that the report’s solutions and findings were readily available for free. He took a jab at the experts, remarking that what had cost Rs100 million to uncover was accessible at no cost.
The meeting highlighted the government’s struggle to hold individuals accountable, with Wapda and the Ministry of Water Resources claiming it was challenging to assign responsibility.
However, cabinet ministers disagreed, arguing that accountability could be established for the major failure. Sources revealed that attempts were being made to protect Wapda officials and project management despite serious and continued losses to the infrastructure.
The planning minister rejected both proposals and directed the departments to obtain an independent validation of the plans. He emphasized the need for a detailed action plan and continued collaboration with independent experts. A follow-up session is scheduled for next week to refine strategies for the project’s rehabilitation.
The project’s repeated failures have sparked concerns about the government’s ability to manage large-scale infrastructure projects. The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project’s collapse has resulted in significant financial losses and raised questions about the government’s accountability and transparency.
As the government continues to grapple with the project’s rehabilitation, it remains to be seen whether those responsible for the collapse will be held accountable.
The rejection of the costly report and the planning minister’s directive for independent validation signal a step towards greater transparency, but more needs to be done to ensure accountability and prevent similar failures in the future.
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