The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) have not inched towards an amicable solution on disputed policy guidelines and proposed amendment in tariff determination formula, it is reliably learnt. On Thursday the officials of both Nepra and PPIB sit together in the Ministry of Water and Power to find out a solution of the issues confronting by the PPIB and the regulator (Nepra) for about two hours, first under the chairmanship of Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi and then with Secretary Ashfaq Mahmood.

Both sides, sources said, did not agree even on a single point and flexed their muscles for the formal meeting to be held on Friday with Minister for Water and Power in the chair.

Two Nepra members, Fazlullah Qureshi and Abdul Rahim Khan were looking disappointed when they came out from the office of secretary Water and Power after the meeting.

Later in the evening Nepra officials prepared their strategy to plead the case in accordance with the Nepra Ordinance. When Business Recorder tried to make contact with Fazlullah Quershi for comments about the informal meeting, one of the Nepra officials told that he was on his way to brief Chairman Saeed-uz-Zar at his residence about the issues discussed in the meeting because the later was ill and taking rest.

Meanwhile, Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi, who is heading the recently reconstituted committee to resolve Nepra- PPIB row, while talking to this scribe said that he wanted to ensure 'one-window' operation to attract investment in the power sector.

Jatoi was of the view that he not only overhauled the rules and regulations of PPIB to facilitate the new investors in the power sector but also changed the board formation for this purpose, adding that the body's recommendations would be submitted to the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) very soon for final decision.

Asked why he called a meeting on Thursday when he was holding a formal meeting on Friday to discuss the issues in depth, he said that it was a preliminary meeting of both PPIB and Nepra officials to evolve consensus on some points. However, detailed deliberations would be held on Friday in the presence of Wapda officials.

Replying to a question, Jatoi further said that the committee would also discuss tariff determination formula and settled all issue.

The committee would also consider the recommendations of the previous committee constituted by the then chief executive under the chairmanship of former secretary cabinet Javeed Masood and incorporate suitable suggestions in the final summary for the ECC.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005