ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar said on Thursday that the government was not privatising any power utility or generation unit.

Talking to a delegation of Wapda Hydro Electric Union led by its president Abdul Latif Nizamani and secretary general Khurshid Ahmed, he said the impression being created about the privatisation of public sector power entities was not correct.

Various issues relating to power sector reforms, outsourcing of management of Gencos and service structure of employees were discussed during the six-hour meeting.

Mr Qamar said reforms were being undertaken to improve the power sector and national economy.

He said that the interest of all stakeholders would be protected and genuine demands of workers would be considered.

The minister said the issues relating to service structure of employees and officers would be taken up at a meeting next week.He said that employees of defunct Pepco would be given an option for their postings in the new setup.

Mr Qamar said that the existing CEOs of power distribution companies had also been allowed to compete for the post of CEOs being recruited under the reforms package.

He said the boards of directors of distribution companies had been fully empowered and CEOs would be appointed on their recommendations. However, their performance would be monitored by the ministry.

About the matters concerning outsourcing of the operation and management of public-sector generation companies, the minister said that the impression of privatisation of generation companies was wrong.

He said fuel would be converted into cheaper fuel and only the operation and management would be given to the private sector to improve efficiency and the concept clearance paper would be shared with the labour union.

The union leaders said they were not in favour of protests and would cooperate with the government to improve efficiency of the power sector.