LAHORE: Experts at a webinar organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) were unanimous about depoliticising the power sector, especially by stopping the appointment of the people who had a conflict of interest on key posts.

They were of the view that controlling incompetency, nepotism and favouritism in the energy sector could lead to proper development of the sector.

Referring to the appointment of Tabish Gauhar, the special adviser to the prime minister, and his idea of public-private partnership model to reform the ailing distribution companies in Pakistan, which he had adopted in Nigeria as the chief executive officer of the Oasis Energy, the experts stressed the need for appointments of experts following a process on merit on all positions. They said those appointed at key posts should have scientific knowledge of the sector and they should be free of a conflict of interests.

The real challenge, they said, was that the political economy of Pakistan was creating hurdles in development. Agreeing that Pakistan had broad capacity-related issues, one of the experts agreed that vis-à-vis Nigeria, there were successful models available from other related economies that the government should consider for adopting.

“Pakistan’s energy history is full of episodes of ‘stop-go’ growth driven by energy shortages and excessive costs. Many a times Pakistan experienced a gap between the demand and supply of energy, bringing economic progress to a standstill,” Afia Malik pointed out.

“Pakistan’s electricity sector is in a complete mess. It suffers from institutional and structural disconnections and fragmentation in the priority of issues,” she added.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2021