Islamabad: On the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, an 8-member task force was formed under the leadership of Federal Minister for Power and Water Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari for the implementation of structural reforms in the power sector.
The task force headed by Federal Minister for Power and Water Owais Ahmed Khan Laghari aims to reduce the financial burden of the power sector, to enable the establishment of an effective and sustainable competitive power market.
The task force will be chaired by Federal Minister for Power and Water, Sardar Owais Ahmed Khan Leghari and the co-chairmen will be Prime Minister’s Advisor on Power Muhammad Ali and National Coordinator Lt. Gen. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal.
Syed Zakaria Ali Shah, a Grade 21 officer of the Secretariat Group, along with one member each from the National Power Regulatory Authority, Central Power Purchasing Agency, Private Power Infrastructure Board, and Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) will be part of the task force.
According to the declaration, the task force will be empowered to select any expert from the public and private sector, local or international consulting firms, bankers, legal advisers, chartered accountancy firms, or any other organization or individual to carry out its affairs. shall be authorized to obtain records and information or assistance.
TORs for structural reforms in the power sector have also been given, the task force will also be able to provide measures and recommendations to make the power sector financially and operationally sustainable, and the task force will develop an efficient and liquid power market design.
It is further stated that the task force’s mandate includes reviewing and recommending measures to reduce capacity overdrafts, closing down certain plants, and taking other necessary steps as deemed appropriate.
The task force is tasked with reviewing the issues related to the setup cost of various IPPs in the country and identifying malpractices, procedural weaknesses, and regulatory gaps to suggest a way forward to correct them. Also included.
The mandate of the Task Force will also be to review compliance with various parameters, terms, and conditions of IPPs.
The task force is also responsible for signing agreements with relevant government agencies, and institutions and recommending measures to resolve the issue of circular debt stock in the energy sector.
It has been mentioned in this context that the role of the task force will not be limited to fact-finding and the task force will also be responsible for monitoring the implementation of its recommendations, however, the federal government will provide full support including budget allocation for the task force.
The Task Force will be bound to formulate recommendations along with an implementation plan and submit it to the Prime Minister within one month of its establishment, the Power Division will notify the Task Force.
The Special Secretary for Power Division will be obliged to provide support to the said task force
who will also head the Secretariat of the Task Force, the Task Force will maintain effective coordination and consultation with the Ministry of Energy.
