ISLAMABAD, July 8: The government is likely to reshuffle the boards of directors of all the four generation companies (Gencos) of Wapda to improve their operational and financial performance before their privatization. Informed sources told Dawn on Friday that Wapda authorities were currently in the process of consultations with the federal government to bring in professionals from private sector to improve efficiency of these boards. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi has asked the Wapda chairman to replace chief executive officer of Lakhra Power Station Abdul Hameed Khan with some other person with immediate effect.

The sources said the minister had recently visited Lakhra and Jamshoro power stations and found a number of complaints of wrongdoings in the two companies. The minister had taken into custody their record.

The sources said the chief executive of Jamshoro company was currently in contact with the minister and Wapda authorities to ward off his replacement.

The ministry of water and power has also appointed an enquiry committee comprising Wapda’s member (power) and general manager (thermal) to look into the affairs of Lakhra and Jamshoro power stations and submit a report to the federal government.

These decisions were taken at a meeting presided over by Mr Liaqat Ali Jatoi to review the performance of Gencos.

An official statement issued after the meeting said that the minister directed Wapda to take immediate steps and post efficient staff and officers in all other Gencos which are producing less power than their capacity.

The minister also directed Wapda’s member (power) to look into all the financial and administrative affairs of the Gencos and suggest measures to further improve their performance.

He said there should be no shut down of power plants and faults should be removed on emergent basis. He said all the plants should be in operational condition otherwise strict action would be taken against the responsible officials.

The minister expressed concern over the performance of Lakhra and Jamshoro power stations in various aspects. He said that all the Gencos should improve their performance and their power plants should be run according to their capability.

The meeting was informed that generation performance of the Gencos had improved during last five years and reached at 3500 mw.

The thermal power generation has increased by 5.5 per cent in 2004-05 as compared to the same period last year.

Later CEOs of the Gencos gave detailed presentations on their performance.