‘Nepra rules, regulations under review’

LAHORE: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) rules and regulations are being reviewed to make them more and more business-friendly, Engineer Imtiaz Hussain Baloch, director of Nepra, said on Friday.

He was addressing members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI Vice President Nasir Saeed and Executive Committee members Amjad Ali Jawa and Tariq Mahmood were also present on the occasion.

It was also decided that Nepra will hold its public hearings at the Lahore Chamber that would help resolve the issues in shortest possible time. Baloch said that these initiatives will not only resolve the issues of the business community, but will also help build trust between the two stakeholders.

The issue of new connections will be resolved soon, he said, adding that suggestions to separate domestic and industrial feeders are under consideration, while work on the upgradation of transmission system is well on its way.

He said that Nepra will welcome suggestions from all stakeholders. LCCI Vice President Nasir Saeed said that getting electricity is one of the major issues and surprisingly Pakistan ranks 157th on this indicator.

It takes around 178 days in Pakistan to get a 140kVA, three phase electricity connection. He said that huge delay is witnessed in getting site inspection, internal wiring test report and external works. These delays can be avoided if there is an electronic portal, which should not only provide the facility of application submission (for new connections), but also the submission of all relevant documents online.