ISLAMABAD : The Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Qaiser Khan who has recently been made OSD( Officer on Special Duty) by the NTDC Board, has reportedly turned the table on the top bosses of his own Organization, besides the World Bank’s role, corruption, contractors influence and unjust decisions of Board.
He has made several claims in his letter addressed to some key men in the Government and security Organizations and sought investigation from NAB or FIA.
He said that his letter is an appeal against NTDC office order of April 22, 2025 in which the he has been made an OSD; reference to the events mentioned in newspapers; also, important issues in NTDC are highlighted.
” The discussion that took place in meeting in Task Force was just on presentation of timelines of flagship projects and nothing on the mode of procurement/execution was discussed except for a passing remark. As a presenter, I had to defend his case and so NTDC as well. Whether the arguments of the meetings were tense or intense is another matter. No doubt there was disagreement, but there were never any detailed deliberations on the mode of procurement/ execution. But the recent news items are relating this meeting with the procurement mode, which seems very strange if not mala fide,” he said.
Regarding timelines, Working Groups for the flagship projects were established by MD NTDC, through office orders on February 18, 2025 .Detailed discussions were held on timelines and finalized in a meeting, of which he was a part. Even afterwards, further deliberations were made, but he was never called in any meetings and neither did the conveners of the WGs inform him, and nor GM PSP Sajjad Haider was kept in the loop.
According to OSD DMD, these timelines were discussed as action item in 292nd BoD meeting, as per directions of 276th meeting of BoD. It was discussed and approved, but, alas! the draft minutes of the meeting conveniently misses the word “approval”, which is testament to the fact that the board is afraid of taking on the responsibility. One member had categorically stated that “if it is ok with the technical team then the timelines are ok from their side”. Audio recordings of all these meetings are available, but please be mindful of the fact that if they can manipulate minutes, then I am afraid anything can be done.
He further claimed that the practice in vogue is that the minutes and directions therein, are sent to office of MD NTDC for information and further submission to quarters concerned (including MoE PD) for information and further necessary action, if required. So, it was the responsibility of MD NTDC to have informed Secretary Power Division.
” Coming to the fact that I was against public private partnership. Yes, I own the statement, and all BoD members and Power Division will second what I have stated. I had written to Power Division; sent a noting to MD NTDC and had moved an agenda in this regard, but MD deliberately tried to stall it. The fear that I had, was that NTDC and Pakistan as a country MUST NOT be trapped in any other form of IPP like arrangement. (I still wonder, where did SIFC and Task Force come into the issue),” said Qaiser Khan.
” The idea was deliberations. And as I stated in BoD meetings, that I could be wrong, but we must have an informed and discussed policy decision. Not that we be left to the whims of a couple of individuals who are famous for tall claims. Even when the agenda was “held back”- for reasons best known to MD and BoD Chairman- I had raised the issue several times in BoD meetings, that it is to be a policy decision and was to be made by BoD NTDC,” he maintained.
According to Mr Khan, it was when Minister for Power intervened, that he wanted it to be discussed in BoD and that he wanted clear recommendations of the Board. It was then that the agenda was forwarded to the Board.
” Sadly, some members were very skeptical of me, as to why I had brought this up. To which I replied “when you keep camels, you have to keep your doors high”, and it is on record. I requested and reminded the Board of its duty!!! That NTDC management can give recommendations only, final decision of a YES or a NO has to come from the Board. Strangely Chairman BoD- who is interfering in every management issue, rather acting as a de facto MD- kept himself out of these discussions except the first one,” he continued .
Qaiser Khan has claimed that this was the basis for his being made OSD. Also, his stance went against some vested interests of certain members and officers of NTDC. (Why can’t they simply over rule me. I am just a D MD please).
He has further stated that CFO was asked to prepare brief on the financial matters/implications. However, he was advised to make adjustments to current NTDC financial assessment. The idea was to load the financial statement of NTDC and get it close to that of the PPP model submitted by World Bank.
” Three such meetings were held. And I had to say, “you are focusing on the Daannaa and not on the trap and please, even if you are trying to make the Daannaa into a pizza, still the trap- if there is one- has to be addressed”. This is on record,” he said.
Mr. Khan is of the view that CFO “fault” was that he just couldn’t sugar coat the World Bank model or load the NTDC model to such levels that either the difference becomes minimal or are at par. And so, he was penalized for this.
” Sir, if the board is not agreeing to our observations, they can easily over-rule our suggestions and come up with an open statement. Why hide behind management and make them scapegoats?” he said adding that there is total collapse of hierarchy.
He has also claimed that within a week of taking over as Chairman Board, Dr Fayyaz called him and Rashid Bhutto DMD AD& M and asked for transfers and postings and even promotions on current charge. It was the period when powers of MD were exercised by two DMD’s, with the signatures of the senior, a must. he being the senior.
” Both of us argued with the Chairman against it, for the list included people that he wanted removed from key posts, who were known for their integrity and competence. The list, as demanded, had names with dubious integrity to be posted / promoted on key posts. Yet, the Chairman threatened, that he will bulldoze us. (He even threatened the board, that anyone standing in his way, he will just bulldoze them),” Qaiser Khan said.
He has further claimed that in that list some were the old hands that had handled projects and had never accomplished timely completion. Some of these transfers were based on the complaints of contractors. (Is NTDC to be run on the demands of the contractors?) and was named “restructuring”.
He said meetings are regularly being held by BoD Chairman for operational matters; management matters and even restructuring issues. Yet, he is never called for these meetings.
The department of power system planning is being practically run by Chairman and MD, both (myself) and GM are bypassed and we are at times being used as rubber stamps. He as DMD, is never called or taken in loop and not informed even afterwards, he remained completely blank in this regard and had complained several times in board meetings and otherwise.
He had stated the same on numerous occasions- even in BoD meetings. Having 34 years of experience he can give some input as well. So, requested to include him in these meetings. But he still being ignored.
One example is that, before the current new Board Members, he had moved agenda for restructuring of a department (TSG) and had plans for some others. But since the agenda has his name tag, so now it is being held back.
He was made DMD (P & E) on merit. Due process was followed and as Allah is my witness and Naveed Ismail, the then BoD Chairman will vouch for him.
” Please, investigate and check why of all the approximately 10,000 employees, my promotion orders are time based and performance based. Later GM’s and Chiefs were promoted but the same criteria was not implemented. I had filed a complaint but Company Secretary refused to submit it to the Board and when Dr. Fayyaz came as Chairman, I knew his intentions, so I too held back. Please ask why I was not given full charge of MD on look after basis, when Rana Abbdual Jabbar was removed, even though I was senior, and even Ministry had given consent twice. Investigate this. (Then, how come am I incompetent),” he said.
He has also asked the letter’s addressee to also look into ;(i) why SECL line for Thar coal was delayed by 21 months. Dr. Rana Jabbar, the then MD, made great efforts to complete it but why the delay before him. Who reaped billions of rupees ;(ii) why new Mansehra grid station that has two 765/220 KV, 1200 MVA transformers each and not even a single outgoing line despite several asks from him ;(iii) why Karoot power house has two less line bays and is now a serious issue of power disbursal. Why PPA is missing this arrangement ? ;(iv) why no studies on the benefits of MMR line and reactive compensation viz a viz expensive power house ;(v) who carried out studies for all the IPPs’ ; then who vetted in NTDC; issued NOCs to them and broke the backbone of the country? ;(vi) who was the lead in HATCH, E and Y, PSIA, CESI and amassed millions? And even now, steering them. Aren’t, the personnel of planning involved in private studies for these IPPs etc, including current MD. Where does their conflict of interest stands here? ;(vii) Isn’t the Chairman on record that he saved Rs 84 billion per annum for the country and he challenged, as to what would have happened if he was not there. Who is responsible for this debacle? Certainly not me ; and (viii) Didn’t he say that planning has failed over the years and now it is ok. So, if he has made it ok and now that planning has faltered on flag ship projects, he must take the fall. Not me.
” These are a few. I beg and request to address these. Let all these be investigated by proper agencies. Sir, consider my earnest plea that I was the stumbling block. I am not a yes man and so was not kept in the loop. They want a yes man and want to run NTDC on the advice of the Kitchen Cabinet only. Also, I am not the project execution person/ authority and if I have no authority in my own section then why am I made responsible? he concluded.
Ends
