ISLAMABAD: The Power Division is moving forward with the appointment of a new Board of Directors (BoD) for Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) after prolonged delays, while the process for Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) continues to face uncertainty.
According to officials, both Sindh-based distribution companies have been operating without reconstituted boards since the expiry of their three-year tenures on September 2, 2025. The delay, largely attributed to political factors, has drawn criticism, particularly as both utilities remain among the poorest performers in terms of losses and recovery.
Operating under the Ministry of Energy (Power Division), the two DISCOs are governed by the State-Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Act, 2023, and the SOE Ownership and Management Policy, 2023, which require boards to consist of five to eleven members, with a majority being independent directors.
The Board Nominations Committee (BNC), led by the Minister for Power, initiated the reconstitution process on January 14, 2026. Candidates were shortlisted through multiple channels, including the database of the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG), and recommendations were submitted to the Prime Minister on February 1.
Following approval, nominations for SEPCO’s board were forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (CCOSOEs), while HESCO’s nominations are still pending approval.
The proposed SEPCO board includes Ghulam Mustafa Laghari as Chairman, along with independent directors Faraz Shaikh, Sanan Islam Sheikh, Zafar Iqbal Sobani, Imran Husain, and Naween A. Mangi, in addition to representatives from the Power and Finance Divisions, a technical expert from CPPA-G, and the company’s CEO.
Officials confirmed that all required security clearances have been obtained. With CCOSOEs’ endorsement secured, the Power Division is expected to seek final approval from the federal cabinet in the coming days.
Story by Mushtaq Ghumman
