Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is likely to appoint former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman Salman Siddique as chairman of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Pakistan Today has reliably learnt.
NEPRA’s chairmanship fell vacant after former chairman and retired bureaucrat Khalid Saeed resigned from his post in March this year following a controversy over his tenure. The government has been under pressure to appoint a seasoned professional to head NEPRA and steer the power sector out of crisis by resolving regulatory issues. The name of Shahid Sattar, member of the Energy Planning Commission was also under consideration, but he lost out due to bureaucratic clout.
Only recently, the prime minister appointed retired federal secretary Saeed Ahmad Khan as chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) even though he had no prior experience in the sector. The requirements for the post included more than 20 years of experience in oil and gas sector.
For the last one year, both the regulatory bodies have been under severe criticism by experts and officials due to the intensification of the energy crisis. NEPRA made an extra-ordinary delay in issuing the notification for new power tariff of distribution companies (DISCOs) for the current fiscal year, causing a liquidity crunch in the overall energy chain.
The blocking of the financial flow resulted in the non-recovery of Rs 60 billion since October 2011 under fuel price adjustment, and Rs 80 billion under a four percent equalisation surcharge. The receivables of DISCOs have gone up to Rs 375.7 billion and the payables have increased to Rs 365 billion. The major reason was the inordinate delay in determining the tariff of DISCOs which filed petitions in July last year and their tariff was determined in February-March period.
The appointment of non-professionals at the top technical posts of the regulatory bodies has been attributed as the sole cause of their failure to address various issues afflicting the power and energy sectors.
Salman Siddiqi perfectly fits the qualification of PM gillani because he has a Honorary PHD in Corruptionolgy, having overseen the operation of 70,000 missing containers as FBR head and massive tax evasion of RS850 Billion annually.
Salman Siddiq is a man who as Chairman Lahore Gymkhana sold A Memberships that don't exist to over 250 persons for 5 lakh each. What a perfect choice to head NEPRA.
Shahid Sattar was the seasoned professional. His profile looks very strong. Worked with World Bank, huge oil firms such as BHP Billiton and Tullow (reference below). Looks credible. Unfortunately we only choose the corrupt.
http://www.pc.gov.pk/mem_energy.htm
At least he is in PC trying to fix this mess 🙂
Shahid Sattar is very much an honest and capable professional, unfortunately in his anti-corruption and transparency drive he too seems to have suffered at the hands of bureaucratic clout and a manufactured slander campaign. In Pakistan it is easy to touch raw nerves when one is determined to clean up.
For those who dont know, Shahid Sattar was also the man who helped develop Zamzama gas field currently operated by BHP Billiton. Zamzama is our second largest gas field and in another two decades after Sui's decline, it will be our primary source of gas. He has a clear track record of delivering solutions in the energy sector. It is shame that Pakistan chooses 'used scratched bullets' instead of clean professionals of whom there is no shortage. We have talent, we just need to have the integrity to deploy it.
Planning Commission is just a body that makes policy recommendations which nobody listens to. It seems both Dr. Nadeem ul Haq (Deputy Chairman) and Shahid Sattar (Member Energy) have made some excellent proposals in the past year, but most go unheeded. Nadeem ul Haq is a renowned economist, google his lectures on TED. Such individuals should be in charge of implementation and not just policy. I have worked closely with Planning Commission and seen their work, it is up to world class standard.
What wonders did Mr. Siddique do when he was Chairman FBR that he is being given another honor? What has he achieved for this country?
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