Senate seeks CCI records before moving ahead with DISCO privatisation

A Senate subcommittee has demanded complete records of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) decisions and consultations with provincial governments concerning the proposed privatisation of power distribution companies raising questions about the constitutional process behind the initiative.

ISLAMABAD: A Senate subcommittee has demanded complete records of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) decisions and consultations with provincial governments concerning the proposed privatisation of power distribution companies raising questions about the constitutional process behind the initiative.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Senate Subcommittee on Devolution at Parliament House chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro. The chairman stressed that the CCI’s constitutional responsibilities and the interests of provincial governments must be properly considered before further decisions are made.

The committee directed relevant authorities to submit earlier CCI decisions, records of provincial consultations and details of any objections raised by the provinces. Senator Ghumro said the committee would determine its next course of action after examining the documents.

The Minister for Privatisation told the committee that the required procedures had been completed. He warned that referring the matter back to the CCI could delay the process discourage investors and further strain the finances of power distribution companies.

The minister explained that the National Electricity Policy 2021 was prepared following recommendations from the provinces with subsequent work on the privatisation programme continuing during 2023 and 2024.

He argued that privatisation was necessary to address persistent losses caused by electricity theft and operational inefficiencies. Improving the performance of distribution companies, he said could reduce the financial burden on the national exchequer.

Senator Ghumro, however, insisted that the government must provide documentary evidence to support its position. Referring to Article 157 of the Constitution and previous court rulings he emphasized the need to examine provincial responsibilities in electricity-related decisions.

Officials informed the committee that the CCI had taken 11 relevant decisions concerning the matter. According to the record presented during the meeting no province had formally registered an objection to those decisions.

The committee nevertheless requested the relevant five-year decision on DISCO privatisation related CCI records and evidence of consultations with provincial governments. Members said the documents were necessary to establish whether the decision-making process had adequately addressed constitutional requirements.

Officials assured the subcommittee that the requested information would be provided for review.

The committee also examined progress on earlier recommendations and the implementation of its directions. The CCI Secretariat informed members that a summary had been forwarded to the Prime Minister but a response was still pending.

Officials added that a CCI meeting scheduled for October 9 could not take place because of the prevailing circumstances.

Senator Ghumro said the committee’s objective was to ensure transparency accountability and effective parliamentary oversight. He stressed that decisions concerning power distribution privatisation should be assessed against constitutional provisions judicial rulings and the respective responsibilities of federal and provincial governments.

The meeting was attended by Senators Jan Muhammad Buledi and Poonjo Bheel alongside senior officials from the Cabinet Division, CCI Secretariat, Establishment Division and other relevant departments.