ISLAMABAD: As the Task Force on the Power Sector nears completion of its extensive review—leaving several critical questions unanswered—the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has constituted a “Prevention Committee on the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).” This committee is tasked with examining the laws, rules, and regulations governing NEPRA and addressing broader issues in the power sector.
In this regard NAB has sought following data / information ;(i) the strategy paper for privatization of power sector that resulted in unbundling of WAPDA and creation of multiple power sector entities under regulatory framework of NEPRA;(ii) details of commitments with the International Financial Institutions for power sector reforms since 1985;(iii) volume of total circular debt so far paid and outstanding against the federal government ; and (iv) details of entities established in the public sector since unbundling of WAPDA.
Under section 27 of NAO, 1999 , NAB has also sought record of employees of Generation Companies (GENCOs), Power Distribution Companies (Discos) and National Transmission Despatch Company ( now National Grid Company).
This also includes employees on MP- scales or special packages / contract, non development budget and development budget.
Though further details of the Prevention Committee is not available, it appears that the NAB intends to go into details of all issues of the power sector which led to its failure especially corrupt practices in contracts of Discos, Gencos and NTDC.
There is also a possibility that NAB will also be seeking information from NEPRA about its employees, their salaries and its role in dealing with power projects tariff and other approvals.
The National Task Force on power sector headed by Power Minister and comprising, Advisor to PM on Privatisation( previously SAPM on Power) Lt. General, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and senior level officials from NEPRA, CPPA-G, SECP, PPIB and Intelligence Agencies has finalized new deals with the IPPs and GPPs with a claim of savings of Rs 4 trillion. However, new deals with Wind Power Projects have not been made possible yet due to involvement DFIs. who wrote a very strong worded letter to the Government.
A couple of IPPs, like Halmore Power and Orient Power have also not signed the revised deals on government’s terms and conditions.
Ends
