Minister orders shake-up in NTDC over project delays

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has taken serious notice of performance lapses in the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), resulting in the removal of several top officials amid concerns over sluggish progress on key infrastructure projects.

During a high-level performance review meeting earlier this week, Leghari expressed dissatisfaction with the NTDC’s ongoing and upcoming projects. Following the session, the NTDC Board relieved a deputy managing director, two general managers, the chief financial officer, and three chief engineers. The officials have been made officers on special duty (OSD) for their alleged negligence and undue delays in project execution. The minister instructed the NTDC Board to immediately conduct a detailed inquiry into the root causes of the inefficiencies, calling for swift identification and accountability of those responsible.

The NTDC Board also highlighted systemic issues in planning and execution during the meeting, holding the Planning Wing—led by the deputy managing director, the general managers, and the CFO—accountable for the delays. Three chief engineers were also removed for dereliction of duty. The NTDC managing director has been given two weeks to finalise a report assigning accountability to the remaining staff and to initiate appropriate disciplinary action.