Senate panel strives to revive Lakhra power company

Company’s losses have accumulated to Rs11.79b since its inception

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Power Division has constituted a sub-committee for the revival of Lakhra Power Generation Company in a bid to ensure electricity production and wellbeing of company employees.

In a briefing given to the standing committee, which met under the chairmanship of Senator Fida Muhammad, it was revealed that accumulated losses of Lakhra Power Generation Company stood at Rs11.79 billion and the company had been facing losses since its establishment.

“We want this power plant to be operational as this is the asset of the state and is providing employment for hundreds of people,” remarked Senator Moula Bux Chandio.

Committee members expressed concern over the performance of the company and called for submitting comprehensive documents, its design and the power purchase agreement. They also directed the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to take part in the committee meetings.



The committee was briefed on the promotion of officials of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) who had been promoted from BPS-18 to BPS-19 grade since January 1, 2017. It directed Pepco to submit a report on the number of officials promoted and their qualification according to the requirement of the department and the remarks on their performance reports.

The committee was told that 90% development work had been completed on the Thermal Power Station Guddu, but only 50% payments had been made to the contractor.

The CEO of the thermal power station asked the committee to direct the Sindh Irrigation Department to provide water for the power plant in off-season as well.



An official of the Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company said cases of power theft had been controlled in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and incentives had been offered to the officials of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) who helped in controlling theft.  

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2018.

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