Islamabad: A local newspaper has reported that proposed changes in Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Bill 2017 has become contentious and a source of dispute between the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and the newly formed Ministry of Energy.
The dispute has been primarily attributed to the reduction of NEPRA’s powers, which is an independent body and is being forced to bow down to political interference and influence.
In a meeting of the Parliamentary panel on energy, which was chaired by Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk and attended by Minister of State for Power Division Abid Sher Ali, Secretary Power division Yousaf Naseem Khokhar and Chairman Nepra Brigadier (Retired) Tariq Saddozai.
When the suggested changes being considered to be made in Nepra Act 1997 came under discussion, Khokar said Ministry of Energy and Nepra needed more time to evolve a consensus over the changes suggested in NEPRA Act 1997.
On the other hand, Chairman Nepra thanked the energy committee chairman for allowing his entity to put forth their views and reservations to the amendment proposals put forth to be made in NEPRA Act 1997.
Saddozai commented that Nepra was making all-round efforts to ensure transparency in the power sector and has he put forward his arguments, the parliamentary panel on energy Chairman Bilal Ahmed Virk said that both the Ministry of Energy and Nepra need to sit together and resolve the outstanding issues before reaching to a mutual consensus.
Virk instructed Nepra to submit its reservations regarding the proposed amendments being requested in Nepra Act 1997 to the committee’s secretary.
It had been reported in May, could be deprived of $300m worth of financing from various donor agencies which include International Monetary Fund, Japan International Cooperate Agency and the Asian Development Bank due to the proposed amendments in Nepra Act 1997.
