LAHORE: Pakistan’s former caretaker Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz said on Saturday that he plans to file a case against Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ejaz stated that he would challenge the owners of 40 IPPs on behalf of the nation. He urged the public to pray for justice against the influential IPP owners.
It is noteworthy that Ejaz held a press conference on July 20, where he revealed that IPPs had received Rs450 billion in the first three months of the current year. During the press briefing, he disclosed that the government was purchasing electricity from a particular power plant at Rs750 per unit under its contract with IPPs.
“I have raised my voice against 40 families and presented data to protect the country from these issues. It is alarming that the government is paying Rs150 billion to a power plant that generates less than 15% of its capacity,” Ejaz said.
He further revealed that the government was paying Rs370 billion to three IPPs that were also producing less than 15% of their capacity. Ejaz stressed the need for accountability for those receiving billions monthly for idle power plants.
He advocated for purchasing electricity exclusively from the most cost-effective sources, noting that 52% of these plants are government-owned, and 28% are privately owned, totaling 80% of Pakistani ownership.
Ejaz also urged the government to renegotiate its agreements with IPPs to reduce the financial burden on the nation.
As Patron-in-Chief of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), he criticized the excessive costs imposed on the country due to these contracts, attributing the inflated prices to corrupt agreements, mismanagement, and incompetence, which have led to electricity being sold at Rs60 per unit.
