Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided against granting an extension to the job tenure of Tauseef H Farooqi, the current Chairman of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
and federal cabinet granted its approval to start fresh recruitment process to fill the top slot of power sector regulator (NEPRA).
According to sources, Cabinet Division has solicited federal cabinet’s approval fort the appointment of Chairman NEPRA and the cabinet granted its approval through circulation of the summary. They said that the government was not satisfied with Farooqi’s handling of NEPRA’s decisions concerning K-Electric and other power plants/companies played a significant role in the decision. They said the government is likely to appoint a trustworthy bureaucrat who can align with its preferred direction for NEPRA’s decisions. Notably, the job contract for the NEPRA chairman can be extended for up to four years, said sources.
Under Section 3(2) of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission, and Distribution of Electric Power Act (NEPEA Act) of 1997, the Authority consists of a Chairman and four specialized members who are appointed by the federal government. Tauseef H Farooqi was appointed as the Chairman of NEPRA through a notification from the Establishment Division (notification No. 1/27/2019-E-6) on July 31, 2019. His current four-year term is set to expire on August 4, 2023.
