Rs3.2 million salary under fire: Senate questions NEPRA chairman’s absence from office  

Rs3.2 million salary under fire: Senate questions NEPRA chairman’s absence from office  

Islamabad: “Serious questions have been raised about the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) after Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned why the Chairman NEPRA continues receiving a monthly salary of Rs3.2 million despite concerns regarding his office attendance and official responsibilities.”

The issue was raised during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan at the Establishment Division.

Senator Aimal Wali Khan questioned the performance and accountability of senior government officials, saying that important positions should not continue without effective participation and responsibility.

While discussing NEPRA, Senator Aimal Wali Khan stated that the Chairman NEPRA had remained ill only a few weeks after his appointment and was not attending office regularly, yet continued receiving his full salary.

He questioned whether public funds should continue to be spent on positions where official duties are not being performed and demanded accountability regarding the matter.

The committee took note of the concerns raised by Senator Aimal Wali Khan and discussed the importance of transparency and responsibility in government institutions.

During the wider discussion on public sector appointments and governance issues, Senator Aimal Wali Khan criticised the practice of keeping individuals in important positions despite their inability to perform official duties.

He remarked that some people continue holding positions even when they are unable to actively carry out responsibilities, raising questions about institutional efficiency and accountability.

The committee stressed that senior positions in government bodies must be linked with performance, transparency and public responsibility.

The issue comes at a time when regulatory institutions such as NEPRA play a major role in Pakistan’s electricity sector, including matters related to power regulation, tariffs and consumer interests.

The committee directed relevant authorities to provide required information so that matters related to public appointments, governance and institutional reforms could be examined in detail.