Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has strongly criticized widespread unscheduled power outages by electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), labeling them a breach of regulations established by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The committee will summon the Power Division to its next session to address this critical matter. This action follows a meeting chaired by MNA Malik Ibrar Ahmad at Parliament House on September 24, 2025.
The committee was informed about the frequent unscheduled load shedding and NEPRA’s response. DISCOs, reportedly following Power Division directives, are implementing outages based on Aggregate Technical and Commercial loss policy. The committee found this practice a clear violation of NEPRA’s 2025 Performance Standards Distribution Rules, which the regulator confirmed it never sanctioned. The committee labeled this policy as an encroachment on the regulator’s authority.
The performance of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) was also reviewed. The committee condemned OGRA’s monitoring of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sales and decanting in residential areas, citing risks to life and property. Concerns were also raised about the production of subpar LPG cylinders, prompting calls for legal action against those violating safety norms. A public awareness campaign on the dangers of using such cylinders was also recommended. Furthermore, the committee will convene a meeting with OGRA and Sui gas companies to address overbilling and rising line losses.
A private member’s bill to amend the Services Tribunals Amendment Bill 2025 was rejected by the committee. The bill proposed shortening the appeal period for aggrieved civil servants from 90 to 35 days. This reduction, the committee argued, would overwhelm the tribunal and hinder proper review by departments.
Finally, the Benevolent and Group Insurance Funds Management was instructed to complete an actuarial study of both funds within 90 days. The committee will then review a related private member’s bill. The committee believes that government employees should receive retirement benefits rather than posthumous payments, unlike the current practice of providing grants to legal heirs. The meeting included MNAs Tahira Aurangzeb, Nuzhat Sadiq, Farah Naz Akbar, Syed Rafiullah, and Rana Ansar, along with officials from the Cabinet Division, Establishment Division, and other relevant departments.