Nargis Sethi's resilience

Nargis Sethi's resilience who happens to be a highly-rated Grade-22 officer was never in doubt but the way she has been able to earn the respect of the new Prime Minister and get the position of Secretary, Water and Power would surprise many because of the perception of her closeness with the previous People's Party government. Still more astonishing is the news that she has been bestowed with the privilege of superseding the ministers in charge of the ministry in decision-making and reporting directly to the Prime Minister. According to a report in Business Recorder on 5th June, 2014, Sethi was quoted to have said to her close aides that the "Prime Minister has given me a free hand. I am answerable to him (and) not the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khwaja Asif or Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali". Veracity of such an assertion can be discerned from the recent behaviour of the incompetent Chief Executives of Discos and other officials who are now said to be searching for ways to save their skins and Sethi's hectic schedule to prove her mettle. For instance, in an official statement of the Ministry on 4th June, 2014, Nargis Sethi was informed to have paid surprise visits to Mandra, Suhawa, Gujar Khan, Dina and other far-flung areas to monitor the power supply situation herself and inspect IESCO's field offices and complaint centres. At Mandra sub-division, she directed the IESCO Chief to ensure installation of all poles within a week and provide electricity to girls' schools. Directions were also issued to provide energy meters within two days to domestic consumers. At Gujar Khan sub-division, she expressed her displeasure over the absence of staff and directed the high-ups to take strict action against the absentees. Nargis Sethi also took notice of the poor functioning of the complaint centres and directed the IESCO Chief to improve their working. In a meeting with Chairman CDA, it was agreed to restore electricity to the offices of CDA on payment of Rs 300 million but Sethi urged the CDA to help IESCO in their public awareness campaign for energy conservation. Chiefs of Distribution Companies were directed to make all-out arrangements for Ramazan as she along with her team would remain linked via a video conference to monitor and ensure uninterrupted supply during Sehr and Iftar. Disco chiefs were also advised to devise their respective plans of action in the coming days for optimal electricity load management.
One can easily realise the huge importance of the efficient functioning of the Ministry of Water and Power in the present circumstances and appreciate the keen desire of the Prime Minister to put the right persons at the right places in order to overcome the current crisis in the energy sector. Lack of power has not only retarded the growth rate of the country but worsened the employment situation and generated a lot of resentment against the government, which does have the potential to create social chaos and destabilise the present set-up. It is, of course, sad that despite concerted efforts of the government in the last one year, the situation does not seem to have visibly improved and line losses continue to be very high. The settlement of circular debt at the beginning of the tenure of the Nawaz Sharif government and untiring efforts and pressure of Abid Sher Ali to force the defaulters to pay their due bills have, more or less, failed to show the desired results. Government had estimated Rs 165 billion as subsidies in the budget for Wapda/Pepco during FY14 but ended paying Rs 245 billion instead. The estimation of subsidies at Rs 165 billion and unprecedented proposed investment in the energy sector during FY15 is a clear signal that the government intends to be tough with the defaulters this year. It would therefore need a person at the top who could ensure optimal utilisation of the budgeted amount and at the same time be very uncompromising so that energy crisis is alleviated and the government reaps some political dividend. Sethi is famous for hard work and known as a no nonsense person who can really deliver. As such, she is likely to prove equal to the task at hand. While we also favour such an appointment if it is in the country's interest, there are at least two factors, which need to be thought through seriously by the governments. Firstly, behaviour of the previous and the present government shows that there are only a handful of officers including Sethi at the top who are really competent and known performers. This is a poor reflection on the quality of bureaucracy and indicates the need to induct and train very bright and committed officers at the top urgently to confront the challenges being faced by the country. Secondly, it shows a tendency on the part of Prime Ministers of the country either to rely on their close associates and relatives or a selected group of bureaucrats to perform key responsibilities. This sends a very wrong signal both to the political leaders and bureaucrats of the country. One can easily understand the position of other ministers if cabinet members as powerful as Khawaja Asif and Abid Sher Ali could be sidelined. In our view, Nawaz Sharif has to become a politician who knows how to share power, build consensus and delegate authority to the right persons in his party. His political associates would be distraught and feel disappointed if they are not given the authority they deserve as ministers and bureaucrats are allowed to overrule them.