BY: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, by Senator Rana Mahmood Ul Hassan, on Monday questioned NEPRA’s unapproved increase in salaries and allowances, ordered a comprehensive performance audit of the regulator and directed implementation of its recommendations on increasing the upper age limit and number of attempts for the CSS Competitive Examination.
The committee expressed concern that NEPRA had revised the salaries and benefits of its Chairman and Members without federal government approval. It decided to refer the matter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and called for a performance audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan.
During a briefing on circular debt and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), members raised concerns over capacity payments to non-operational power plants and criticised NEPRA for failing to provide tariff details despite repeated directions. The committee also sought complete data on IPPs, tariff determinations, generation capacity and installation costs.
The committee discussed the location of imported coal and RLNG-based power plants and directed NEPRA to submit a comprehensive report. It also stressed reviewing electricity tariffs and IPP agreements to help reduce power costs for consumers.
A briefing on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s rollout obligations was deferred due to the absence of relevant officials, who were directed to attend the next meeting.
The committee also decided to take up frequent changes in petroleum prices at its next meeting. Expressing dissatisfaction over delays in implementing its recommendations on CSS age relaxation and attempts, it directed the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and the Establishment Division to submit a compliance report at the earliest.
