Islamabad
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Power Division has recommended the establishment of a 132kV grid station at Padhana, Haripur, in the larger public interest, directing the relevant authorities to initiate necessary arrangements for securing additional funding for the project.
The committee met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Muhammad Idrees, MNA, to review the implementation of its previous recommendations and discuss electricity-related issues in different parts of the country.
The Secretary Power Division informed the committee that a report regarding the proposed grid station at Padhana had been submitted in compliance with its earlier recommendation.
During the meeting, Babar Nawaz Khan, MNA, highlighted the importance of the project for local residents and emphasized the need to improve electricity supply in the area.
The committee was also briefed on the under-construction 132kV grid station at Sarai Saleh, Haripur, which was initially conceived in 2008 to replace the obsolete 66kV infrastructure.
Although a decision to establish the facility was taken in 2020, subsequent technical assessments raised questions about its justification in view of existing electricity demand.
Babar Nawaz Khan raised concerns over the project’s feasibility, approval process and execution, alleging that it had been initiated without a proper feasibility study.
He questioned the valuation of acquired land, the reported 80 percent completion of work despite the project’s incomplete status, expenditure incurred and the availability of procured equipment.
He also pointed out discrepancies concerning the reported transfer of Rs125 million from PESCO to HAZECO and called for a thorough examination of the record, fixing responsibility for any irregularities and recovery of public funds wherever warranted.
The MNA also stressed the need to address excessive load-shedding, low voltage and problems arising from the obsolete 66kV infrastructure.
After detailed deliberations, the committee recommended the establishment of the Padhana grid station and emphasized the prudent utilization of available funds.
The Power Division informed the committee that the project could not be completed within the existing allocation and that a separate funding case would require justification before the competent forum.
The Secretary Power Division said HAZECO would prepare the necessary technical justification for submission to NEPRA, while permissible improvements to the existing transmission and distribution network could be undertaken within available resources.
The committee directed the HAZECO chief executive officer to initiate follow-up action, including preparation of the case for separate financing.
