RECENT changes in the power sector, arguably one of the most crucial areas in need of major reform, have led to much debate. A new face has been nominated for the post of secretary, water and power. Outgoing secretary Nargis Sethi had taken up the challenge after efficiently managing some very senior federal government posts. Her tough talk led many to believe she would ensure that the power bureaucracy delivered results, particularly where improving recoveries and raising efficiencies were concerned. The sheer force of confidence that Ms Sethi brought with her were assets — up to a point. But ultimately, the intrigues of the inept in the power bureaucracy proved stronger than her willpower, and the results of the pressure exerted by her to accelerate recoveries led to an overbilling scandal, which apparently played a major role in her premature removal. The episode goes to show that tough talk is not enough to deal with the power bureaucracy. What is needed is a calmer, more methodical approach to reform the incentive structure that makes the bureaucracy tick.

Her replacement is Younus Dagha, a relatively newer face at the top. Mr Dagha belongs to the DMG group from 1985 and has spent most of his career in service to the provincial government of Sindh. His work in the federal government is only a few years old, and most it is far removed from the type of posts around which powerful politics revolve. But Mr Dagha has a reputation as a man who gets things done without getting his hands dirty. The road ahead for him is treacherous, and his relative inexperience in dealing with high-pressure posts in close proximity to political power could be as much of an asset as a liability. Tackling political pressure, the intrigues of the power bureaucracy and pressure from the IPPs may well take its usual toll.

As an example, consider how Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif recently embarrassed himself and a number of others by announcing that Nepra, the supposedly independent regulator, had rejected a petition filed by the PTI even before Nepra had said anything about the matter. The Nepra chief, who happens to be related to the minister, was put in the position of having to deny that a decision had been made on that petition. Khawaja Asif’s announcement served to reinforce the impression held by many that family ties between the minister and the regulator’s chief had led the latter to subordinate his professional obligations to the political priorities of the minister. It remains to be seen how Mr Dagha will respond to this sort of pressure, especially considering he has a track record of not obliging political interference. To be successful, he will need to keep politics at bay, not become overconfident, and chart out a methodical and deliberate path of reform. No doubt this is a daunting job, but perhaps the best bet is to entrust it to a new face.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014