Controversial bill approved by Senate panel

It is quite unfortunate that the Senate Standing Committee on Energy has approved the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The Senate panel's move is clearly aimed at clipping the wings of regulator Nepra. A regulator is a public authority responsible for exercising autonomous authority in various areas in a regulatory or supervisory capacity. It is quite alarming that the Senate panel did not give due consideration to the fact that a regulator has to be independent from other branches or arms of the government.