Govt criticised for not appointing heads of regulators
ISLAMABAD: The members of Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday slammed the government for failing to appoint full-time heads of various institutions including regulatory bodies which is resulting in ineffective working of state machinery.
“For 13 months now, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is without an appointed head — and same is the case with other 23 organisations,” Senator Salim Mandviwala said.
Adding to his comments, Senator Talah Mehmood said that it seems to be a policy of the present government to keep the matter in ‘limbo’.
“This way it is easy to sway decision as a regular chairperson could challenge them,” he added.
Senator Usman Saifullah chaired the committee in the absence of Senator Nasreen Jalil.
Responding to the matter, Akbar Sharifzada representing the Ministry of Finance, informed that the matter was delayed due to lengthy process as directed by the Supreme Court earlier.
“Previously the decisions were taken by the commission but the Supreme Court has abolished the commission and the appointments are being made by the finance ministry,” he said.
“Short listing of candidates has been completed and the names will be finalised in next two weeks.”
Mandviwala questioned the appointment of governor state bank by the ministry despite the bar by Supreme Court.
However, the committee members asked the official to report back to the committee after two weeks.
The committee was scheduled to discuss the performance of CCP. It was informed that under the new CCP laws, entities enjoying dominant position in market were not illegal but use of that position to manipulate the market is illegal.
Senator Chaudhry Shujat Hussain noted that cartelisation has increased in the country since the inception of CCP.
“All the key sectors in country such as cement, poultry, fertiliser, sugar and milk are indulging in collusive practices,” he said, suggesting that the law needs revisiting.
The committee was informed that the CCP actions have highlighted cartelisation in various sectors but there is no head way in the second phase.
The annual budget of CCP was Rs200 million for the last three years, while in 2014-15 alone, it was Rs572m for Pemra, Rs294m for Ogra, Rs415m for Nepra and Rs9 billion for PTA.
Published in Dawn, November 27th , 2014