Islamabad: A Senate subcommittee called on Monday for the privatisation of Pakistan’s power distribution companies to be halted until the matter is taken to the Council of Common Interests (CCI), the constitutional forum where the federal and provincial governments address shared matters.
The panel warned that it could pursue a privilege motion if the Privatisation Commission continued without complying with its direction.
Chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, the Subcommittee on Devolution argued that the companies perform functions affecting provincial authority.
It said the provinces should be involved before decisions about their ownership proceed. Its objection is to the process and the absence of fresh CCI consideration; the panel has not itself cancelled the privatisation.
The government is already seeking investors for the Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Islamabad electricity supply companies. The Privatisation Commission says their restructuring plans received approval from its board and the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation.
The CCI considered Discos privatisation in 2011, but the Senate panel says the matter should return to the council before the current transactions move ahead.
The dispute leaves a practical question for the government: whether it will seek a fresh decision from the provinces through the CCI while its investor process is under way.
