KARACHI: The business community has voiced serious concerns over proposed amendments to the Nepra Act, 1997, and the Electricity Act, 1910, warning that the changes could erode the autonomy of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) by placing it under the administrative control of the Power Division.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Acting President Muhammad Raza strongly opposed the proposed amendments, saying they strike at the very foundation of regulatory independence — a principle widely recognised as essential for transparency, predictability and credibility in utility regulation.
He cautioned that bringing Nepra under the direct influence of an executive ministry would compromise its ability to make impartial, technically sound and cost-reflective decisions, ultimately weakening confidence in Pakistan’s power sector governance framework.
Raza noted that independent regulators are created to function as neutral arbiters between the government, utilities, investors and consumers. Any move to turn Nepra into a subordinate body of the Power Division, he warned, would not only undermine its authority but also raise serious concerns about the politicisation of tariff setting and regulatory decisions, with adverse implications for investors and consumers alike.
