Ministerial body to meet daily to resolve power sector issues

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Accepting at last that the power sector was “complex”, the ministerial committee on Tuesday decided to meet daily to “narrow down” the approach on issues haunting the power sector with short, medium and long-term solutions.
The meeting of the ministerial committee was held under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and attended by ministers for water and power, petroleum, Planning Commission deputy chairman and the State Bank of Pakistan governor. Representatives of ministries of Finance, Water and Power, Planning Commission and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) were also present.
An official source said the meeting discussed issues related to the liquidity of the sector, circular debt, full cost recovery, corporate governance, Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), NEPRA’s enhanced role, IPP dues, tariff issues and payables and receivables of the power sector.
The source said the meeting noted that divergent point of view were presented by the officials of various ministries and there was a need to sought out these difference to make a definitive plan of action to resolve the issue.
He said it was noted that the solutions presented were not enough and radical steps were required to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the power sector.