ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Power expressed surprise at the countrywide blackout that plunged Pakistan into darkness within seconds due to a technical fault in only one power plant.
The committee meeting was presided over by Senator Fida Muhammad, wherein different power sector related issues came under discussion.
The officials of Power Division informed the committee that presently two committees had been tasked to find the fault due to which tripping occurred in the plant.
“Initial investigation indicates that it was a breakdown. Two inquiry committees are probing the incident and as inquiry reports are finalized, they will be shared with the committee,” assured Power Division officials.
Senator Nauman Wazir expressed surprise at the country wide breakdown as the country was deprived of power within six seconds. He said, a couple of years ago, a software worth millions of rupees was purchased to stop cascading affects of such an incident. He further stated that all the IPPs and Gencos must have their own regeneration plants. He emphasised that it must not happen again, adding that NTDC should devise a mechanism to ensure that the entire system did not shut down due to fault in one plant. Power Division officials informed the committee that it had spent Rs 35.35 billion from the allocated development budget of Rs 74.49 billion in 2020-21 and had acquired loans at 12 percent mark-up.
The committee urged the Power Division to purchase transformers, pools and other power related equipment from local companies so that local companies benefit and jobs were created. The committee was informed that NTDC is working on 47 projects across the country.
Chairman Standing Committee directed the Power Division to make a comparison of standards of imported and locally manufactured equipment and other confronting issues, so that a mechanism may be devised to promote local equipment.
The committee was further informed that a fraud of Rs 239 million in billing of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) had been unearthed, dating from 2017 to 2019. Of this, Rs 194 million have been recovered from the accused employees who have also been dismissed from service.
The Committee also sought details of such incidents in other Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos) reported during the last 10 years.
The Committee also discussed flawed recruitments in Pepco. The committee expressed annoyance at NTDC officials for giving presentation in English. Chairman Standing Committee stated that he has urged the Power Division several times to also make a presentation in Urdu.
“We have asked thousands of times that presentations should be brought also in Urdu but the committee's instructions have not been implemented. This is out last warning to the Power Division. If this happens in future, the committee members will leave the meeting,” warned the Chairman.
Senator Maulvi Faiz Ullah maintained that when Pakistan’s national language is Urdu, then why are presentations being given in English. He said if this practice continues, he will speak in English in future.
As Senator Maulvi Faiz Ullah began speaking in Arabic Power Division official promised that they will also bring presentation in Urdu next time.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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