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ISLAMABAD: National Assembly legislative body on Friday constituted a sub-committee to probe into termination of six employees of Guddu power station without any reason and directed authorities not to take any further action till the submission of committee’s report.

National Assembly standing committee on Water and Power met in the parliament house with Syed Ghulam Mustafa in the chair.

During the meeting Ijaz Jakhrani raised the issue of person recruited in the Guddu power plant in 2011 after transparent process. After one year new MD GENCOs 2 Ahsan after assuming his charge ordered inquiry against six employees of the power plants without any reason which is unfair and unjust with the employees.

Nawab Yousaf Talpoor raised the issue of removal of elected chairman of Hyderabad Electric supply company (HESCO) and said that HESCO chairman Hussain Talpoor was removed without any reason and no notification issued regarding it. He alleged that all this was done to favor the brother of former Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar (Dr Nadeem Qamar). Standing committee showed concerns over the violation of companies act in HESCO.

In this regard, federal Secretary Water and power Zafar Mehmood informed the committee that Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is regulator of the companies that has mandated to check the violation of rules by companies. He said that SECP issues rules for the companies therefore queries and objections pertaining to the issue would be addressed with SECP.

Standing committee recommended Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to check out irregularity regarding the appointment of Dr Naveed Qamar as Chairman of HECSO and give report to the committee.

Salahuddin said that we should raise the issue of hours long power outages in the country which is the concern of million of people. He said that appointment of Chairman HESCO is matter between two political families who are part of the government therefore it can be addressed in president house or PM house.

Chairman of the committee Ghulam Mustafa said that it is not issue between two families but a matter of law and being discussed here after requisition from members.

Committee also directed officials of water and power to provide details of perks and privileges of MD National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC).

Federal Secretary Water and Power Zafar Mehmood informed the committee that power outages increased during Ramazan due to disruption in the Chashma Nuclear power plants. He said that power plant 1 has been repaired while Chinese team is working on Chashma 2 and it would be repaired during next few days and situation would be improved.

He said that tornado in Muzaffar Garh disturbed the transmission lines and power supply due to which outages increased. He said that 2000 megawatt power can be produced from bagasse and government is working on Co Gen policy for power production through it. Negotiations are in progress between sugar mills and NEPRA for upfront tarrif and issued regarding it would be resolved soon, Secretary added.

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