Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Power was held today at Parliament Lodges Islamabad under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro along with the members Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Senator Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai, Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi Senator Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and Senator Sana Jamali. Officials from the ministry and k electric was also in attendance.
The Senate Committee while discussing the of Point of Public Importance regarding “Provision of jobs to the candidates who qualified the recruitment test of PESCO”, raised by Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan in the Senate sitting held on 7th October, 2022, the committee was informed that the Ministry of Power Division directed all the DISCOs that the recruitment process, frozen against the posts of Assistant Director/ Junior Engr. & revenue officers (BPS-17), may be continued subject to the condition that fresh interviews be conducted for all candidates interviewed previously. The Committee was apprised that accordingly, the interviews were conducted. The committee was informed that since the recruitment process became doubtful the ministry decided that in order to further expedite the process, the process should be outsourced (NTS) only to the extend of the written test. However the committee was not satisfied with the answers of the official, and kept the matter pending, it was also recommended the process of recruitment and joining of the SDOs/AMs must also remain pending till the committee obtain clarity on the matter. The committee also sought the agreement, the listed and short listed candidates and the transparency report.
While discussing the consideration of Public Petition No. PP-4964 regarding “Regularization of the Employees recruited in FESCO as LS-I & SSO-I through advertisement in 2015-2016”, referred by Honourable Chairman Senate, the committee was apprised that the ministry of Power Division has directed that no employee working on contingent/ daily wages / contractual basis etc in any DISCO may be regularised. Due to this instant ban on the regulation, LS-I /SSO-I and other staff appointed since 2015-16 fulfilling criteria, could not be regularised.
While taking up the point of Public Petition No. PP-4963 regarding “GEPCO advertise the 20 percent promotion induction quota on lump sum pay package instead of regular promotion induction alike LESCO & FESCO”, referred by Honourable Chairman Senate. The committee was further informed that the induction cases of regular employees will be considered at par with regular employees to protect their service benefits, the induction examination will be through third party induction agency.
While briefing by CEO, K-Electric on the status of renewal of agreement between Govt. of Pakistan and K-Electric; the recommended that a detailed incamera- briefing on the K-Electric including its privitization process, performance and working, status update on distribution and generation and the pending issues between the government of Pakistan, be given in the next meeting. The CEO, K-Electric informed that the K Electric was privitised in 2005 since the government sold 72.3 pc shares and declared it a private company. Now government own 24.6 pc shares and there are total 13 directors out of which 3 are from government side and 10 are private.
The Committee also discussed about details of electricity provided to Balochistan including agricultural tuebwells alongwith its recovery and revenue, subsidy received by Government of Pakistan and Government of Balochistan from start till date. The Committee recommended that a team of 2-3 Members will visit Baluchistan and verify that how many meters are installed on 1434 agricultural tube wells on which electricity is provided by K-Electric.