ISLAMABAD:The National Assembly witnessed intense discussions on Wednesday during Question Hour as the speaker took strong notice of the absence of institutional briefing to a parliamentary secretary, while critical matters concerning utility stores and KE’s financial write-offs also came under scrutiny.

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq summoned the federal secretary for the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation to his chamber after Parliamentary Secretary Azhar Leghari informed the house that he had received no briefing from the ministry regarding its operations.

“The institution’s attitude is extremely non-serious. I am ashamed to tell the house that as a member of the treasury benches, I am unable to brief the members,” Azhar Leghari said, prompting the speaker to take immediate action.

A junior officer representing the ministry was ordered to leave the house, and the secretary was called in for an explanation. “Ask the secretary to come and sit here,” the speaker directed sternly from the chair.

The directions had come after MNA Tahira Aurangzeb asked the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation about misuse of official vehicles by officials in Pakistan Baitul Mal.

In another session highlight, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry addressed concerns regarding losses sustained by the Utility Stores Corporation (USC). He revealed that the stores were incurring monthly losses of Rs600 to Rs700 million. “Had the Utility Stores not been restructured, the losses could have run into billions,” the minister warned.

He clarified that no employee was being arbitrarily dismissed, stating, “a committee was formed on the prime minister’s directive, and employee matters were settled amicably.”

As part of the process, staffs are being offered a voluntary golden handshake to streamline operations and reduce fiscal pressure.

The session also focused on the controversial issue of unpaid electricity bills in Sindh and the ongoing Rs76 billion write-off concerning K-Electric. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response and deferred the related question, instructing Minister of State Abdul Rehman Kanju to hold consultations with representatives from the PPP and MQM to find a practical solution.

“This issue cannot be ignored. Sit with the concerned members from Sindh and resolve it,” the speaker ordered.

Parliamentary Secretary for Power Syed Sajid Mehdi had earlier explained that the government resorted to write-offs only after exhausting all recovery efforts.

“The write-off of Rs76 billion was currently underway through a defined process - first the board approved it, followed by audit clearance,” he said, adding that such measures contributed to the growing circular debt.

Minister of State Abdul Rehman Kanju acknowledged that power theft was intolerable but criticised the blanket power cuts affecting entire neighborhoods due to unpaid bills by a few. “This practice is unjust,” he said, backing calls for a more equitable approach.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq concluded by recommending that a dedicated meeting be held to comprehensively address this serious issue.

The matter was raised after Syed Hussain Tariq complained about writing of Rs76 billion and passing the burden on to masses.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025