Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The government has now approved the formation of the Board of Directors (BoD) of National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and Power Division issued a notification in this regard.
According to the notification dated June 14, 2023, the NTDC board will consist of seven independent directors, five non-executive directors, and one executive director. The independent directors include Khalid Ishaq as the Chairman, along with members Babar Iqbal, Naweed Sharif, Dr. Naveed Ashraf, Reham Ali Otho, Rehmat Ullah Baloch, and Ms. Ayla Majid. The non-executive directors comprise officials from the Power Division, Ministry of Energy, Planning Commission, Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB), and Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA). The managing director of NTDC serves as the executive member of the board.
The reconstitution of the NTDC board aims to address concerns related to governance and operations of the company. The Senate Standing Committee on Power had previously raised objections to the previous board, including Chairman Naveed Ismail.
In a separate development, one of the Deputy Managing Directors (DMD) of NTDC, Manzoor Ahmad, was relieved of his duties with immediate effect, according to a notification issued by the Board of Directors in its 247th meeting held on May 31, 2023. The termination of services was approved in accordance with the employment agreement, and salary in lieu of notice period was authorized.
The Senate Standing Committee on Power had previously demanded a comprehensive report from the Power Division regarding action taken against two Deputy Managing Directors of NTDC, Zain Banatwala and Manzoor Ahmed. The committee had deemed their appointments as “dubious” during a meeting on April 27, 2023.
The reconstitution of the NTDC board and the removal of the Deputy Managing Director reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and effective governance within the power sector. These steps are crucial for the smooth operation of NTDC and the provision of reliable transmission and dispatch services across the country.
