The National Power Policy 2013 envisaged a complete elimination of the energy shortfall by the end of 2017. However, just a few months later, the government admitted that it was not possible to achieve the target.
The policy also aimed at inexpensive and affordable electricity for short-term and medium-term needs. However, it then revived the expensive, oil-based 425MW Nandipur thermal power project, costing Rs57.38bn. And it now plans to sign a contract with the same supplier for constructing the 525MW Chichoki Mallian power plant, to be based on diesel and/or furnace oil.
While the policy assures merit-based appointments of professionals at the helm of power sector affairs, bureaucrats have been given positions of the secretary of water and power, chairman WAPDA, managing director Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), chief executive Gadani Power Park etc.
The government also seems to have reneged on its policy to develop power projects based on indigenous hydro and coal resources. Instead, almost all the planned coal-based power projects, of a cumulative capacity of over 16,000MW, would use imported coal.
