The meeting discussed the transfer of administrative control of the regulatory bodies, including National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), from the Cabinet Division.
Raising the issue of regulatory authorities in the meeting, Senator Kalsoom Parveen said the regulatory bodies will not function independently under the control of line ministries, adding that the role of regulatory bodies is very important. Secretary Cabinet Division Nadeem Hassan Asif told the committee that regulatory bodies are independent and the government attached them with the respective ministries only for the administrative purposes. He said that earlier the Cabinet Division had no administrative role over the regulatory bodies.
He said nowadays the regulatory bodies are independent. He said that laws and acts relating to regulatory bodies have not been changed. He said that only the Council of Common Interests (CCI) can change these laws, while the rules and regulations have only been changed for the administrative control. He added, "Other reason for bringing regulatory bodies under the administrative control of line ministries was clash of personalities."
"They are independent bodies and will keep on functioning on the lines they were doing earlier. The ministries can not change their major polices," he said. Chairman Committee Senator Talha Mahmood in consultation with the members decided to summon the heads of NEPRA, PTA, FAB, OGRA and PPRA in the next meeting of the committee for having detailed briefing on change in administrative control.
The committee also decided to move a privilege motion in the Upper House of the Parliament against the secretary Islamabad Club Arif Mahmood Khan for not attending the meeting of the committee. The chairman said the secretary Islamabad Club has been holding his office for the last 14 years, while the contract of a secretary is limited to three years only. He also directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to check the property of the secretary and inform the committee.
The committee also discussed the policy regarding appointment of officers of grade-20 and grade-21, having domiciles of Balochistan, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreign countries and other federal departments. While discussing the ''Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University Bill,'' the committee sought a detailed report from the CDA within 15 days regarding the plots which were allotted for the purpose of charity and welfare.
It was also informed to the committee that the Prime Minster has approved the summary to separate the university from the PIMS hospital. However, the Prime Minister has directed for holding meeting of all stakeholders with the Law Ministry till January 3, 2017 and to submit a report to the Prime Minister.