Islamabad: In a significant gathering today at Parliament House, the Senate Standing Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, convened to address pressing concerns within Pakistan’s power sector, particularly the contentious issues surrounding Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and their impact on electricity pricing.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting began with Chairman Senator Mohsin Aziz urging the Ministry of Power to undertake a detailed comparative analysis of electricity tariffs against those in neighboring countries to address the crippling cost of electricity. The focus was on several critical areas including heat efficiency, capacity charges, and the operational performance of underutilized plants, with the Minister of the Power Division committing to transparency in the forthcoming data.

The committee also delved into broader power sector reforms and the challenges of capacity planning, with Secretary (Power Division) outlining the current landscape of electricity supply and demand. Senator Shibli Faraz voiced concerns over the need for better planning to accommodate seasonal variations in power supply, criticizing the reliability and cost of the current system.

Discussions extended to the impact of high electricity costs on consumers and businesses, with senators querying the Ministry on tangible steps to reduce bills, tackle the ballooning circular debt, and manage the longstanding issue of electricity theft, which was described as a subculture in some communities by the Secretary of Power Division.

The meeting highlighted regional disparities in electricity theft and losses, with specific references to southern Punjab areas like Rajanpur and D.G. Khan, where losses are notably high. The functionality of the Roshan App, which helps consumers monitor electricity usage, was also discussed as a tool for enhancing billing transparency.

The gathering was marked by contributions from multiple senators and power sector officials, including the CEOs of the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) and the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), who provided insights into load management and operational challenges in their respective areas.

The committee’s discussions underscored the urgent need for reforms across the power sector to ensure affordable, reliable electricity for all Pakistanis while addressing systemic inefficiencies and governance issues that exacerbate these challenges.