Senate panel seeks halt to Discos privatisation, says matter must go to Council of Common Interests
ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Monday called for halting the privatisation of power distribution companies (Discos), directing the Privatisation Commission to place the matter before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) or face a privilege motion if it tries to bulldoze the process. The Senate Sub-Committee on Devolution held a meeting under the chairmanship of Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro. The…
A Senate committee urged the suspension of power distribution company privatization, insisting the issue must be brought before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) or risk a parliamentary challenge. The Senate Sub-Committee on Devolution, chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, expressed concerns over the Privatisation Commission's decision to proceed without fresh CCI approval.
Ghumro warned the commission to adhere to prior directives or face parliamentary action. The panel, which reviewed compliance reports on devolution of subjects under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, also examined the status of federal institutions managing provincial and CCI subjects. Senator Ghumro proposed abolishing 24 ministries and organizations handling provincial and CCI matters, reducing federal spending from Rs19 trillion to Rs13 trillion.
The committee directed the Cabinet Division, Establishment Division, and Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) to submit audited expenditure on these matters by the CCI and provincial governments. The committee also discussed the transfer of policing functions to provinces, the devolution of media functions, and the Thar Coal Energy project.
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