Islamabad, November 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Senate Standing Committee on Power on Tuesday Bill titled “The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2022”, as passed by the National Assembly, moved by Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Law and Justice on behalf of Mr. Khurram Dastagir Khans, Minister for Power in the Senate sitting held on 18 August, 2022 and referred by the House to the Committee for consideration and report was deferred due to absence of the Minister.
The committee decided to consider the bill only if the Federal Minister participates. “The Federal Power Minister has been continuously absent from the committee meeting for the last seven months”.
The committee showed resentment on the non-participation of the Power Minister in the committee meetings, he said that they can show presence in talk’s shows but unfortunately can’t attend the meeting. Saifullah Abro said that the today’s Pakistan has wreaked havoc in three years. And grieved the monopoly of the power sector while showing amazement as in what capacity Amir Muqam sits in Peshawar electric supply.
While discussing the pending payment of Circular Debt towards K-Electric, Senator Saifullah said that at present, the circular debt of the power sector in the country is 2,400 billion. The committee noted that Due to non-operation of two power plants, the treasury suffered a loss of 42 billion rupees.
GENCO Holding Company had to increase the capacity of power plants, instead of capacity building, Gencos fleet was drowned. The committee lamented that the Gencos production went down from 7,000 MW to 2100 MW.
While receiving briefing on the list of BoDs of remaining departments working under Power Division, The chairman committee observed that the members of the Board of Directors of the companies are appointed out of merit. “It seems like the CVs of the board of members has been drafted by one person” stated Senator Saifullah Abro.
The committee lamented the irrelevant inductions in the Power Division, “If such people are included, grid stations will be destroyed” he said. Chairman Committee sadly evaluates the standard of Board of Directors of Discos he said how come two members in MEPCO belong from completely unrelated field saying that one member is running seven factories and a member is running a CNG station.
The Chairman Committee felt amazed on the profile presented of the Board of Directors before the Committee. He dismayed that these are the reasons for circular debt losses theft and breakdown. The chairman committee said that the board has also included cash sellers and real estate owners.
“There should be most capable people in the board, not the people of the market” the chairman of the committee said. The Officials of the Power Division said that the Cabinet approves the Board. Senator Fida Muhammad said that without the presence of the Power Minister, the issue of presence of incompetent people in the board cannot be solved.
The officials of the power division informed that Chairman of the PEPCO Board Rahim Yar Khan was the head of the chamber, the chairman committee inquired whether he has any expertise about the power sector.
The chairman committee further observed that there are two IT companies of one of the member of Board who take contracts from power sector companies, The Chairman Committee said that Power Division should investigate the matter if it creates conflict of interest.
It was also noted that Head of CNG Association of Bahawalpur has also been appointed as a member of the board and an official of the Agricultural Development Bank is also a board member, “Only one person in MEPCO’s BOD is technical, chairman committee” The chairman committee reiterated that the meeting of the committee is conducted beyond party loyalty.
The meeting was attended by Senators Fida Muhammad, Syed Shibli Faraz, Zeeshan Khanzada, Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai, Sana Jamali, Bahramand Khan Tangi and Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan. Senior officials from the Ministry and other attached departments were also in attendance
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