Nepra’s Balochistan member Mathar Rana resigns

ISLAMABAD: Member Tariff of the National Electric Power Authority (Nepra) form Balochistan, Mathar Niaz Rana, has tendered his resignation, it is learnt.

A senior official of the Cabinet Division, requesting anonymity, confirmed to The News, “His three-year term was scheduled to end in August 2025, but he opted to resign.”

Rana had not been attending the office because of some health issues. However, the vibes emanating from the Balochistan government are that he may not be selected again for representing the province, as the Balochistan government is unlikely to favour him. Sources say the government believes he did not safeguard province’s interests in the authority.

The reporter tried to reach him over phone, but to no avail. Sources close to him dismissed the impression that he did not do his job well. They said Rana, a seasoned former bureaucrat, did his job diligently according to the rules. Rana submitted his resignation to the Nepra registrar on April 11 which was forwarded to the chairman the same day. The resignation is now in the PM Office for approval.

Rana stated in resignation that he was resigning due to the family considerations, according to the Cabinet Division official. However, sources quoted Balochistan CM as saying that the province’s interest was not properly safeguarded in the Nepra decisions.

Sources said Rana, as a tariff member, criticised the regulator for restricting the public participation through procedural technicalities and called for a minimal or no-cost process to encourage public engagement.

Top sources in Nepra, however, disagree with his approach, and said the authority goes by the book in carrying out its work.

Now that the Nepra is set to announce the tariffs of IPPs, bagasse-based power plants, the member tariff is missing and has resigned.

Rana has held important government posts in the past. He remained secretary Planning Commission, Balochistan chief secretary and chief secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir.