January 23, 2024 (MLN): The federal cabinet on Tuesday rejected the Power Division's proposal to collect Rs600 billion annually, according to the sources.
The recommendations to withhold the issuance and renewal of identity cards and passports for electricity defaulters, as well as to restrict their ability to go abroad and open bank accounts, were also dismissed.
Instead, the cabinet directed the Power Division to submit a comprehensive plan with clear objectives.
The proposal to appoint officers from the Armed Forces, Intelligence Agency, and FIA was turned down, with cabinet members asserting that these entities have more pressing responsibilities than the power sector.
Additionally, the establishment of a performance management unit was deemed likely to lead to legal and political difficulties, according to cabinet members, who criticized the Power Division's recommendations as an attempt to divert attention from the actual solutions to the sector's problems.
Acknowledging the failure of distribution companies to appoint permanent chief executive officers over the past 25 years, the cabinet expressed concern over the lapse.
In a related development, sources confirmed that the Federal Cabinet approved the removal of Ali Raza from the position of Chief Executive Officer at the Pakistan Software Export Board.
The sources also revealed the disclosure of Ali Raza's appointment despite the lack of security clearance. Despite two attempts to secure clearance from the intelligence agency, the approval was not obtained.
Despite the best efforts of the Board of Directors, Ali Raza's security clearance could not be obtained, leading to his subsequent removal from the post.
The approval for his appointment was reportedly based on a summary submitted by the Ministry of Information Technology.
