Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat convened at the Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges, in Islamabad to discuss investment facilitation, power sector oversight, and pending government business under the leadership of Senator Rana Mehmood ul Hassan. Key issues addressed included delays in the review of the Warrant of Precedence, investment facilitation efforts, and challenges in the power sector.
According to Senate of Pakistan, concerns were raised by Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan over the protracted delay in finalizing the Warrant of Precedence, noting that multiple committees since 2010 had yet to conclude the matter. It was revealed that the committee under the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, active since July 10, 2026, plans to finalize recommendations for submission to the Prime Minister. In response, the Senate Committee will seek a definitive timeline from the Cabinet Division and the Minister for Law and Justice, with the issue set to be revisited in the next meeting.
Additionally, the Additional Secretary of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) briefed the committee on a pipeline of 38 projects valued at approximately USD 40 billion across sectors such as mining, industry, and power. The recent approval of the Brownfield Refinery Policy, with five refineries securing implementation agreements for investments worth USD 6 billion, was highlighted. Efforts to streamline regulatory procedures and enhance foreign investment facilitation were also discussed, alongside existing challenges such as bureaucratic inefficiencies and high operational costs, which were underscored by Senators Saadia Abbasi and Abdul Qadir.
In the power sector briefing, senior officials from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) addressed operational performance issues, including low capacity factors of power plants and the statutory framework for tariff structures. The committee emphasized the need for transparent third-party verification of power plant performance to ensure accuracy and accountability.
The meeting also saw the deferment of a bill due to the absence of the Minister-in-Charge, Mr. Ahad Cheema, and a briefing by the National AML/CFT Authority was postponed. The session was attended by key officials from the Cabinet Division, SIFC, NEPRA, and relevant ministries.