Rental power project: Techno Sahuwal returns payment with markup

The company received $11.5 million from government for producing electricity.

ISLAMABAD: Techno Sahuwal Rental Power Producing Company finally submitted proof of payment of Rs1.825 billion inclusive of mark-up in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, after reimbursing the government for an advance received for power generation two years ago.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, was conducting the proceedings of a suo moto case on rental power companies.

The counsel for Techno Sahuwal, Raja Anwar, requested the bench to permit his client to explain his stance as he had some reservations on refunding the money to the government when presenting the payment certificate.

“The right to file an application in the court is guaranteed by law,” the Chief Justice remarked.

He assured the counsel he would be given the opportunity to present his arguments. The case has been adjourned till February 2.

The company had received 11.5 million dollars from the Government of Pakistan for producing electricity.

The Supreme Court directed the company to reimburse the advance payment on January 14.

Rental power companies have so far returned Rs4 billion to the national exchequer after failing to produce even a single megawatt of electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th,  2011.