ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Power, Senator Saifullah Abro, a PTI stalwart, said on Thursday that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was an anaconda whose teeth were removed through amendments.

He passed these comments during a heated debate on corruption in the power sector, which has choked the entire system. He said that corruption cases of less than Rs 500 million are no more in the jurisdiction of NAB.

Chairman standing committee also expressed anger at the continuous absence of Minister for Power, Khurram Dastgir Khan from the committee meetings.

“Gujranwala is a city of wrestlers. Minister who is also an engineer should come to the meetings so that we can fight and see who wins,” he added.

Chairman standing committee was also annoyed at the absence of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) K-Electric, Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi.

He wrote a letter to Chairman Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani for issuance of summons to arrest CEO KE and ensure his presence in the next meeting. He snubbed the local representative of KE, who claimed to be the Deputy Director and was sitting on the chair that is occupied by Senators.

“Is he a gangster, or Dadagir who is refusing to attend the meeting,” said chairman standing committee.

Additional Secretary Power Division, Arshad Mehmood urged KE’s junior representative to convey to his CEO to attend the meeting and not to create an embarrassing situation for the Power Division. He also claimed that KE has not shared its presentation with Power Division.

Power sector: accountability

He further contended that Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with KE has not been renewed since the last six years as bureaucracy of Power Division is conniving with the power entity for financial gain.

During discussion on affairs of NTDC and appointment of incumbent MD NTDC, Secretary Power, Rashid Mahmood Langrial said that new NTDC Board will start the process of hiring a regular MD NTDC.

The committee was briefed regarding implementation status of recommendations made by the committee in previous meetings. It was also briefed in detail regarding appointment procedures and expenditures regarding BoDs. All resumes were reviewed in detail. The committee was also briefed regarding total generation and consumption of electricity in Balochistan. The matter of illegal connections was discussed as well.

The matter of constitution of BoDs of Distribution Companies (DISCOs) is governed under the Companies Act, 2017 and the Public Sector (Corporate Governance Rules), 2013. The committee was informed that under these rules, the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) recently reconstituted BoDs of four DISCOs (MEPCO, GEPCO, SEPCO and HESCO) after approval from the federal Cabinet.

The committee reviewed in detail appointment procedures and expenditures regarding BoDs as well as minutely scrutinized resumes of BoD members. The committee showed serious concern regarding the appointment criteria of BoD members and constituted a sub-committee to review the matter in detail. Conflict of interest in the case of many members was observed. It was asserted that strict action against officers involved in the selection process must be taken.

The committee directed the ministry that reconstitution of all BoDs must be pended until this enquiry is completed. While discussing total generation and consumption of electricity in Balochistan, the committee enquired details of illegal connections and the process of recovery in battle hardened areas of the province.

The committee was informed of the number of illegal tube wells in these areas and QESCO demand and drawl.

It was noted that 1500 MW was the average demand and 870 MW was average shortfall of the connections. It was observed that 33 percent Load Factor compensation of tube wells resulted in 1500 MW demand. The matter has been taken up by the newly constituted sub-committee.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022

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