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Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
2 Sindh-based DISCOs' working irks PD
ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has expressed displeasure at the performance of two Sindh-based power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) — SEPCO (Sukkur Electric Supply Company) and HESCO (Hyderabad Electric Supply Company). Responding to questions during a meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Power, presided over by Muhammad Idrees, Federal Minister for Power, Awais Leghari stated that the performance of SEPCO and HESCO is disappointing. Power Division is using all its influence to change the incumbent Boards of both Discos but did not succeed due to political interference by the Peoples Party. Acting CEO HESCO, who is a Charted Accountant continues to occupy the office contrary to the wishes of Power Division. Poor performance of 3 Discos earns PD's ire 'The level of losses is decreasing in other DISCOs, but in these two Companies, the loss rate is increasing,' said the Minister. In the last meeting of Standing Committee, acting CEO HESCO had challenged the claims of both the Minister and Ministry's officials about losses in HESCO. During the committee proceedings, Rana Muhammad Hayat enquired if electricity tariffs will be reduced further in the upcoming fiscal year? Nepra Chairman Waseem Mukhtar replied that as of now, the electricity rates are expected to remain the same. Rana Hayat noted that 30 per cent tariff relief has been given to industry and asked why agriculture has not been given any concessions? Secretary Power Division, Dr. Fakhray Alam Irfan stated that the relief to the industrial sector was made possible by ending cross-subsidy. PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar, who is also member of Power Committee stated that four months ago he had offered to personally remove illegal connections (Kundas), adding that they cooperated and yet the line losses are not decreasing. 'Because line losses aren't reducing, consumers are without electricity for up to eight hours. The work isn't done, yet elected representatives are blamed,' Akbar maintained. Answering Junaid Akbar, Chief Executive PESCO stated that due to cooperation there has been significant improvement, and more is expected in the next month, adding that the power utility company provides relief on annual basis instead of monthly. He, however, was directed by the Minister for Power to extend relief in load shedding to the consumers on monthly basis. The committee was informed that for vulnerable consumers, the price has been reduced by 48 to 50 percent. The number of such consumers is 17 million. Power Division has sought an increase in the subsidy of Rs. 294 billion for protected consumers. The burden of consumers' subsidies for the poor falls on the middle class. The new base electricity tariff will be implemented from July 1, 2025. The impact of the July re-basing will be reflected in the August electricity bills. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI protests 'drone strikes' in tribal dists
PTI protesters take to the streets in Lahore on May 9, 2023. SCREENGRAB The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a protest in Peshawar against drone strikes in the tribal districts, with participation from government ministers, members of the assembly, and party officials. PTI made it clear that drone attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are unacceptable and warned that if they are not stopped, the party will take all necessary steps to halt them. The protest was organized on the instructions of PTI's founding chairman, who had called for demonstrations in the tribal areas. The protest in Peshawar's Hashtnagri area was attended by PTI's provincial president Junaid Akbar, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Peshawar region president Atif Khan, provincial ministers Ihtesham Ali, Abdul Karim Tordher, Meena Khan Afridi, Arif Ahmedzai, Pir Maswar, district president Irfan Saleem, Arbab Sher Ali, Kamran Bangash, Fazal Elahi, Shandana Gulzar, and other party officials. Speakers at the protest condemned the drone strikes, stating that innocent civilians are being targeted. They described the attacks as a violation of human rights and an affront to national sovereignty, and urged the federal government to take immediate notice. They noted that the founding chairman of PTI has consistently opposed drone strikes and raised his voice against them at international forums. Due to PTI's firm stance, no drone strikes occurred during its time in power. The speakers added that the entire nation stands with the founding chairman's position. PTI was the first party to oppose drone strikes and even staged a sit-in to block NATO supply lines. The founding chairman was the only leader who had the courage to say "Absolutely Not" to a superpower, claimed speakers. "If these attacks are not stopped, we will stop them ourselves," the speakers warned. The provincial government has also issued a policy statement declaring that drone strikes will not be accepted within the province. They emphasized that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has endured conflict for over 40 years, which has devastated its economy. The province relies heavily on trade with Afghanistan and seeks good relations with its neighbor. The leaders also vowed to continue their struggle against the 26th Constitutional Amendment and said that the nation would once again take to the streets to demand the release of PTI's founding chairman. They criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, claiming he only holds a mandate of 16 seats and questioning the legitimacy of his administration, alleging that even the families of some government lawmakers do not acknowledge them as MNAs.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI protests outside ECP over ‘stolen mandate'
On the call of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, a major protest was held outside the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) office in Peshawar. Organized by PTI, the demonstration drew a large crowd, including party workers and members of the provincial assembly. In anticipation of the protest, authorities cordoned off the ECP office with barbed wire and deployed a heavy police contingent to maintain order. Chanting slogans in support of Imran Khan, PTI supporters demanded the immediate release of their party's founder and other detained members. Addressing the protestors, PTI Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar, Special Assistant to the K-P Department of Population Welfare Malik Liaqat Ali Khan, MNA Atif Khan, and other party leaders alleged that national institutions were undermining the public mandate. 'The power and privileges of institutions exist because of the people; therefore, they must respect the public's vote,' speakers emphasized. Junaid Akbar said PTI workers stood ready to mobilize at Adiala Jail or D-Chowk whenever Imran Khan gives the call. He accused institutions of eliminating political space for PTI and unjustly labeling its peaceful workers as terrorists. 'We are here today to bring shame to the shameless,' he declared, branding the ECP as the 'Corruption Commission' and a 'guardian of defectors.' Condemning PTI's targeting in the foreign funding case, the leaders questioned why financial scrutiny of other political parties remained pending. They claimed that peaceful protests were taking place nationwide to reclaim what they described as a 'stolen mandate.' The speakers denounced Imran Khan's imprisonment as unjust and demanded his immediate release, calling him the nation's hope and a symbol of democratic struggle. They vowed that the fight for democracy, constitutional supremacy, and the rule of law would continue. They called for legal action against returning officers allegedly involved in widespread rigging during the general elections. 'PTI candidates won by a clear majority, but the ECP, in collusion with others, manipulated the results to ensure their defeat,' they claimed, accusing returning officers of conspiring to alter outcomes deliberately. 'Such blatant rigging would even shame a dictator,' they said. Criticizing the ECP's role, they accused it of announcing pre-written verdicts and disrespecting the people's vote. 'Those once demanding respect for the vote are now glorifying the boot,' they said. The speakers maintained that if electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been used, rigging would have been exposed within an hour. They further alleged that the ECP, PML-N, and other institutions worked together to strip PTI of its rightful seats. 'Despite receiving the public's vote, PTI candidates were sidelined due to poor planning and open rigging. The seats were awarded to candidates from other parties,' they claimed.
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PAC unearths Rs3.4b graft by 195 cotton mills
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday revealed that Rs3.4 billion in taxes had not been recovered from 195 cotton mills across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan from 2012 to 2023. The revelation came during a PAC meeting chaired by Junaid Akbar. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research came under sharp scrutiny for failing to collect the cotton tax for over a decade. The secretary for food security informed the committee that the mills had taken the matter to court, but settlements were now in the works. "We hope the entire amount will be recovered in the coming months," he added. However, committee members expressed frustration over why the matter had reached this point. Senator Saleem Mandviwala questioned, "Why did it even come to this. Why wasn't the tax collected in the first place?" The secretary responded that the ministry lacked a clear mechanism for upfront tax recovery. Chairman Junaid Akbar instructed the ministry to ensure full recovery by June. PAC member Aamir Dogar lamented the deteriorating state of cotton production, asking, "Cotton is disappearing from this country... what is being done about it?" In response, the secretary said the Central Cotton Committee (CCC) was being merged into the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), and that efforts were underway to revive the cotton sector. The committee also raised serious concerns about the frequent reshuffling of top bureaucrats in the ministry. PAC member Hussain Tariq pointed out that four secretaries had been changed within the past eight months. The current secretary, he noted, was previously serving in the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan. "It takes six months to even understand the workings of the ministry, and by that time the secretary is changed," Tariq said, urging PAC to issue guidelines discouraging such premature transfers. Shazia Marri endorsed the proposal, urging PAC to formally advise the government against frequent administrative transfers. The committee agreed to write a letter to the prime minister on the issue. Moreover, PAC members also expressed alarm over the declining cotton yield. The food security secretary assured the committee that improvement efforts were underway and that a special committee had been formed by the prime minister to address the issue. However, the committee was informed of a Rs52.3 million loss due to the CCC's failure to invest Rs90 million. "This amount has now been invested," said the secretary, but the PAC directed the ministry to submit investment verification within 15 days. Even more concerning was the revelation that the CCC hired 155 employees without Ministry of Finance approval, leading to a loss of Rs21.6 million, according to audit officials. "These 155 employees have now been terminated," the secretary claimed. When Aminul Haque asked why the staff were fired after eleven years, the secretary clarified, "These workers were not continuously employedthey were recruited for 89-day terms during each cotton season."
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Kandhkot to third-party buyers: PPL seeks PD's approval to redirect unutilised gas
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has requested the Petroleum Division's approval to redirect unutilised gas from the Kandhkot Gas Field to third-party buyers out of 200 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) assigned to Central Power Generation Company Ltd (GENCO-II) in Guddu. The matter was discussed in the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) while Junaid Akbar was in chair on Tuesday. Petroleum Division Secretary Momin Agha informed the committee members that a proposal to sell access gas to third party is the solution to address Genco-II dues against the company, province and federal government. It is also important as Genco-II privatisation is included in the active list of privatisation, he added. The PD secretary said the low offtake and lower price of gas dedicated to Genco-II had negative impact on production of the gas field which would be completely shut down by year 2036 in case no fresh investment bring in it. Low gas offtake by Genco-II: PPL seeks PD probe into reasons He explained that the Genco-II was supplying gas at Rs550 per mmbtu tariff; still a significant variation has been seen in its off-take by the power company. Imran Abbasy, managing director/chief executive officer PPL informed the committee that then investors from private sectors showed their interest in investment in the depleting well which would enable to enhance its production and life for year 2025. He said that Genco-II off-take from the field was 100 to 110 mmcfd from the allocated 200 mmcfd. He said around 50 mmcfd gas was access or underutilised. Chief Operating Officer Genco-II said that the power company was taking gas of 72.5 percent of total production of the field as per agreed Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) and reflected in fiscal year 2022-23 accounts. He said the company requested the PD to allow them to sell unutilised gas. Access gas to third party would help Genco-II to clear its Rs70 billion dues under Gas Development Surcharge (GDS) to Sindh Province. A substantial amount of PPL gas billing to Genco-II comprises government levies, mainly the GDS and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess, which are also payable to the government on collection from customers. It has been reportedly said that PPL reported that gas off-takes by Genco-II are consistently lower than submitted Annual Contract Quantity (ACQs) of 145 mmcfd and daily average off-takes from KGF remained -98.7 mmcfd (July 1-Sept 2024). Furthermore, since August 25, 2024, Genco-II reduced the off-takes below 75 mmcfd and there had been instances during said period where complete gas off-takes were ceased by Genco-II. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
