ISLAMABAD: A working group on Friday briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation on the proposed “Pakistan Model” for the privatisation of distribution companies (Discos) in view of the past lessons learnt and latest global practices.

The Senate committee meeting, led by its chairman Senator Shamim Afridi, was attended by Minister for Privatisation Abid Hussain Bhayo, Secretary Dr Iram Khan, and senior officials and consultants. The working group comprises of officials from the ministries of privatisation and power, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the World Bank and the Central Power Purchasing Authority.

Sources in the Privatisation Commission said the proposed ‘Pakistan Model’ includes the concession model and the management control model.

The committee was also informed that the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) in its meeting held in June this year had directed the Power Division to write to all the provinces through the ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination for negotiation in buying the relevant Discos, and letters to that effect have been dispatched to the provinces.

Mr Bhayo said Sindh is already in the process of negotiation with Power Division for the acquisition of Sepco and Hesco, and expressed his confidence in the ability of the provinces to be successful in the power distribution business also, as Sindh province is already in power generation and transmission.

Last year, CCoP approved the concession contracts for eight of the ten Discos.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2022