Genco employees to be absorbed into Discos, NA told

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that rights of Power Generation Companies (Gencos) would not be compromised and either they would be absorbed into distribution companies (Discos) or laid off with full compensation.

Speaking on a calling attention notice, the minister said that details of 1,335 employees, primarily non-engineering support staff, have already been shared with various Discos. He assured that those retiring would receive fair compensation.

Pakistan Peoples Party MNAs Syed Naveed Qamar, Syed Khursheed Shah and others had raised the issue regarding recent decision for not absorbing the Gencos employees into Discos and other organisations, attached departments under the Power Division.

The minister said that Discos were facing a staff shortage, so, instead of hiring new workers, Gencos employees would be accommodated.

He said that the Gencos employees cost the government Rs7 billion annually in salaries, with no significant contribution to the economy.

He disclosed that the Guddu and Nandipur power plants were included in the privatisation list, stating that these plants were completely non-operational and incapable of generating electricity. “Employees at these closed plants are burdening power consumers with Rs7 billion annually,” he said, adding that some workers report for duty without any productive tasks.

The government, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Energy, had decided to either sell the non-operational plants and use the proceeds for employee pensions and benefits or merge surplus employees into Discos.

“Employees will either be merged into Discos or given full compensation, including Rs35 billion in pension benefits, within the next one to two months,” he assured.

He further informed the House that Nandipur and Guddu Gencos were in the final stages of privatisation, with balance sheets and clearance processes completed.