Nandipur power plant to be privatised ultimately

ISLAMABAD: The government has carved out a plan under which it will first operate and maintain the stalled Nandipur power plant and then privatize it after ensuring that there is no more technical hindrance in its smooth running, discloses the latest presentation prepared by the management of the power plant a copy of which is available with The News.
The presentation, which was discussed in the Ministry of Water and Power probably on September 19, also divulges that the government has set up a commission headed by Justice (R) Zahid Aslam that will look into the Nandipur power plant fiasco.
The commission will fix those responsible for the inordinate delaying in making the plant operational.
The presentation also says the government has initiated its working to privatize the plant after it is properly operated and maintained for a certain period and resolution of all the issues pertaining to its smooth running.
When contacted, spokesman for the ministry said he knew nothing about any plan for privatization of the project at the later stage. However, the government is currently emphasizing its focus purely on how to make the project operational.
It has also been decided to get the loan facility and extension in letter of credit as the loan facility which was committed for the project and letter of credit got ineffective on May 31, 2015 which is why the management of the plant is braving a host of difficulties to benefit from the loan facility and import some balance of the plant.
The documents pertaining to the presentation also mentions that the Auditor General of Pakistan has already completed two audits of Nandipur power plant.
Northern Power Generation Company has got two commercial audits of the power plant and so much so Illyas Seed and Company on the direction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also completed the special audit of the power plant. However, the Auditor General of Pakistan’s team has not yet released the audit report about the project.
However, two commercial and one special audit report did not find any irregularity committed in the project.
So far, Rs49.5 billion has been spent and 97 percent physical progress has been achieved.
The present status speaks that the project is idle due to absence of operator.
The previous ICB (international competitive bidding) for the company that will be selected for operating and maintaining the power plant has been scrapped.
Now the short term agreement for 3-6 month with EPC contractor has been approved to run the project and during this period, a long term O&M operator will be hired through ICB as per PPRA rules.
GUJRANWALA: A murder convict was hanged in the Central Jail here on Tuesday. The convict, Muhammad Anwar, had killed his wife Kaneez Fatima and daughter Tauqeer in Hafizabad Sadr police limits on May 5, 1998. His appeals were rejected by the Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court while his mercy petition was also rejected by the president.