ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Power Chairman Saifullah Abro and Power Secretary Ali Raza Bhutta Monday exchanged 'sarcastic' words at a meeting of the committee due to which silence was witnessed in the jam-packed hall.
The unpleasant situation developed at 2.55pm when Secretary Power sought permission to leave the meeting to attend the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) scheduled for 3 pm.
As Secretary Power stood up from his seat and sought permission to leave, Chairman Standing Committee, remarked that whenever, the committee meeting is convened, Secretary sits just for half an hour and leaves.
"You sit in the meeting for only half an hour and leave. If you don't want to attend Committee meetings, tell us, we will recommend to Chairman Senate to dissolve the Committee so that you should not be bothered anymore," Chairman Senate Committee said to Secretary Power.
Ali Raza Bhutta replied that he could not refuse to attend meetings of the Federal Cabinet and those called by the Prime Minister.
He said the meeting he is going to attend is very important as the decision to be taken in that meeting will be ratified by the Federal Cabinet on Tuesday (today).
When the situation became unpleasant due to arguments and counter arguments Chairman Standing Committee asked Secretary Power whether he owns the words of his Additional Secretary that none of the officials in Discos and Gencos are eligible to become members of Board of Directors; while offering a seat in a conciliatory fashion to Saifullah Niazi, a very close aide to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Need for generation licences for small-scale renewable energy-based systems eliminated
Secretary Power described as a 'tough person' replied "yes, I own the words of my Additional Secretary that officials of Discos and Gencos are ineligible and cannot be made Board members," adding that whatever his Additional Secretary or Joint Secretary will say in the meeting, he will own their words.
Chairman Standing Committee questioned the criteria for selection of medical university for written tests and physical tests of Assistant Linemen in Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco).
Secretary Power Division stated that it is the government's policy to recruit manpower in Discos strictly on merit and the Ministry is following the same policy.
"It's my duty to defend the policies of government as a government servant and if I cannot do this, then I should leave this job," said Secretary Power.
He directed CEO to ensure that the salary of ALMs should not be less than minimum wages. He also directed that district-wise quota be fixed so that the people of respective areas may apply. For this purpose, special permission from the Board will be sought. Chairman Committee, who was visibly angered at the exchange of unpleasant words with Secretary Power, asked the officials of companies to stop work. "If General Manager stays at home for one month, I will pay him from my own pocket," Abro said, adding that the incumbent government came to power to fix the system.
The officials of the companies who came from different parts of the country appeared bored with the discussion on irrelevant issues.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
Comments
Comments are closed.