The Neelum-Jhelum Project Crisis: How Mismanagement and Corruption Left Muzaffarabad Without Power

Muzaffarabad crisis: Ongoing Electricity Crisis in PoJK

Residents of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are suffering from continuous power cuts and long hours of load-shedding, even though the region hosts the billion-rupee Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. What was once promoted as a symbol of development has now turned into an example of poor planning, corruption, and administrative failure.

Voices of Public Dissatisfaction

Former Chairman of the Muzaffarabad Traders Association, Sardar Abdul Razaq Khan, voiced strong disappointment over the ongoing crisis. He stated that the Neelum-Jhelum Project, designed to generate 960 megawatts of electricity, has repeatedly shut down due to technical faults. Although the project once achieved full capacity, its repeated failures have exposed major design flaws and lack of accountability.

Corruption and Design Flaws

According to Khan, the cost of the project increased several times beyond its original value because of large-scale corruption. Basic infrastructure promised under the NOC, such as treatment plants and water bodies for Muzaffarabad city, was never built. The project has already been closed twice, resulting in huge financial losses for both WAPDA and the Government of Pakistan.

Demand for Inquiry and Accountability

The people of PoJK have been demanding a transparent investigation into the technical and financial irregularities related to the project. Khan stressed the need for a federal-level inquiry committee to expose and punish those responsible for corruption, negligence, and violation of NOC conditions. Muzaffarabad alone requires around 400 to 450 megawatts of electricity, yet the region continues to face severe shortages.

Call for Justice and Fair Treatment

Residents of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir believe that instead of development, the project has pushed them into deeper hardship. They accuse Pakistan of exploiting the natural resources of PoJK while depriving its people of basic facilities. The ongoing blackout is not just a power crisis but a reflection of decades of political and economic injustice.