The government has decided to set up an appellate body to review tariff related decisions of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to satisfy the investors whose petitions were rejected without any justification. The appellate body would be headed by a retired judge of Supreme Court or High Court who has knowledge of power sector while the members would be taken from public and private sectors which will be finalised after revamping of Nepra regulations, said an official on the request of anonymity.
He however made it clear that Nepra's hegemonic role would now a matter of days. Earlier Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi said in a press conference that the government was amending the rules and regulation of Nepra just to ensure maximum investment in power sector.
"Under the existing rules, if Nepra gives a decision against any company, which wants to invest in Pakistan, the said party again moves the power regulatory body for review. Therefore, they said, justice cannot be done to the affected party," he said.
Keeping in view this lacuna, the government has decided to set up an appellate body which would review the decisions of Nepra in case any party feels that justice has not been done to it, Jatoi added.
Jatoi further said that he was meeting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on March 25 to discuss power sector issues including the amendment in Nepra Act along with this particular issue seeking the formal approval of amending the rules of Nepra to attract maximum investment in power and hydel sector.
The Minister however, seemed very confident that this time the decision of the ministry of water and power would materialise.