Privatisation Commission (PC) has reportedly lifted the ban on hiring in power Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos) due to pressure from Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali, a close relative of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Earlier the PC, in its letter written on September 4, 2015 to the Secretary Ministry of Water and Power and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Discos and Gencos had imposed a ban on fresh hiring without approval of the Commission, citing a number of clauses of Privatisation Act.
However, Chairman PC did not resist the pressure from Minister of State for Water and Power and the entire clause referred to in the earlier letter was ignored in the second letter. Secretary Privatisation Division Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera , in his second letter written on September 16, 2015 to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Fesco, Lesco, Iesco, Gepco, Mepco, Pesco, Qesco, Hesco, Sepco, NPGCL, LPGCL, CPGCL and JPCL said that the matter was discussed by the Chairman, PC Muhammad Zubair with Abid Sher Ali, Minister of State for Water & Power, on September 10, 2015.
According to Secretary Privatisation Division, in order to address the genuine concerns and issues raised by some of the Discos and Generation Companies (Gencos), PC and the Ministry of Water & Power have agreed to the following guidelines for processing the subject cases: (i) only critically required officers / staff, as determined by the Ministry of Water & Power on the basis of technical requirements, may be hired against sanctioned posts; (ii) hiring should be for posts covered/in accordance with the last tariff petition submitted / going to be submitted to Nepra by the entity; and (iii) hiring may only be made on contract basis, with a maximum duration of one year.
Keeping in view the previous letter PC has directed the CEOs of all the companies with the concurrence of the Ministry of Water & Power, to strictly adhere to the guidelines for all new hiring, and to run the process under intimation to PC.
A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif, Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali, Secretary Water and Power, Younas Dagha, Secretary to Prime Minister and Tariq Pasha, Additional Secretary/ SA to Finance Minister.
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