PD likely to retain Lodhi as CEO CPPA-G

The Power Division has reportedly decided to retain Abid Latif Lodhi as chief executive officer (CEO), Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G), well-informed sources told Business Recorder.
The Power Division, sources said, has also held inquiry against him, which was sent by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in respect of financial regularities and appointments.
This was revealed in the summary of chairman Nepra as Lodhi was one of the three top candidates for that position.
However, the Power Division, which apparently is relying on his advice in different matters, held inquiry against him but kept the outcome of inquiry confidential due to unspecified reasons.
The sources said, the CPPA-G has recently got a building on rent for its offices against millions of rupees rent per annum but did not explore the option to purchase its own building, which was possible by paying same amount as installments of loan.
The CPPA-G is a public-sector company limited by guarantee is under administrative control of Power Division and presently functioning as the market operator in accordance with Rule-5 of the Nepra Market Operator (Registration, Standards and Procedure) Rule, 2015.
The administrative matters including appointment of CEO, CPPA-G are governed under the Companies Act, 2017 and Public Sector Companies (Corporate Governance) Rules, 2013 (CGR).
As per Rule 5(2) of the CGR, the board shall evaluate the candidates based on the fit and proper criteria and the guidelines specified by the commission for appointment to the position of the chief executive officer and shall recommend at least three candidates to the government.
The Board of Directors of the CPPA-G initiated the process of recruitment for the post of CEO, CPPA-G in pursuance of the Companies Act 2017 and CGR and advertised the post of CEO CPPA-G in the national dailies on May 5, 2018.
A total of 21 candidates applied for the position.
The Board of Directors of the CPPA-G after short-listing and interviewing has recommended the following panel of three candidates in order of preference for consideration of the federal government for appointment as CEO CPPA-G; (i) Adid Latif Lodhi; (ii) Waqar Ahmed Khan and; (iii) Mubashar Bashir.
The Power Division is of the view that after detailed deliberations and on the basis of profiles of the candidates in the panel has proposed that Abid Lodhi may be appointed against the post of the CEO CPPA-G for a period of three years with immediate effect. However, Power Division did not mention who was part of those detailed deliberations, which were meant to select only Lodhi.