In Islamabad, the Senate Committee has demanded comprehensive information regarding electricity retrieval, pilferage, and deficits from the Power Division.
The committee has alleged that Independent Power Plants (IPPs) in the private sector have been involved in severe corruption and has called for necessary measures to address this issue.
Presided over by Saifullah Abro, the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the meeting brought up concerns about the causes behind the surge in electricity bills. Officials from the Ministry of Energy responded by stating that the capacity charges were 185 billion in 2013, escalating to 642 billion in 2019, further climbing to 796 billion in 2021, 971 billion in 2022, and a projected 1.3 trillion in 2023. The estimated figure for 2024 stands at 2.01 trillion.
Bahra Mandtangi expressed that individuals are resorting to burning their bills in protest. She questioned who should be held accountable for this situation, highlighting ongoing protests stretching from Khyber to Karachi. Concerns were voiced that this unrest could potentially lead to civil disobedience, thereby weakening the country.
Committee members emphasized that the public is bearing the brunt of losses due to theft, transmission line inefficiencies, and defaulters. The committee demanded a comprehensive breakdown of retrieval, pilferage, and deficits from the Power Division. It also called for an investigation into allegations that Independent Power Plants have exploited public contracts, over-invoiced investment amounts, and failed to clear their debts.
Furthermore, the committee raised questions about how the cost of projects in 2009 amounted to 2 billion dollars. They criticized the Power Division for greenlighting these projects without thoroughly examining the estimates. The committee vowed to expose instances of corruption and conduct a thorough inquiry, asserting that Independent Power Plants have been involved in blatant corruption, necessitating appropriate action against them.