ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved the payment of fees for various regulatory services through digital channels, replacing the previous requirement of payments exclusively through traditional banking instruments.
In this regard, NEPRA has issued three Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) — 861, 862, and 863 — aimed at facilitating government organisations, private companies, and individual applicants by modernising payment procedures.
According to SROs 861 and 862, the term “digital means” encompasses a broad range of electronic payment and financial services. These include online payment portals and platforms, interbank fund transfer services, digital bill presentment and payment systems, over-the-counter digital payment facilities, and card-based transactions through point-of-sale (POS) terminals, QR codes, mobile devices, ATMs, kiosks, and other digital payment-enabled systems.
The definition also includes any additional online or digital modes of payment introduced in the future.
Under the amendments, references in Schedule I requiring “a Bank Draft/Pay Order” have now been replaced with “Proof of payment in the sum of Rupees ( ), paid through, inter alia, pay order, bank draft or digital means.”
SRO 863 also introduces amendments to relevant regulations. In Regulation 9, the phrase “in the form of bank draft” has been substituted with “paid through, inter alia, pay order, bank draft or digital means.”
Similarly, Clause 10 of Form C has been revised to require applicants to attach proof of payment of appeal filing fees made through digital means, pay order, or bank draft.
Additionally, Clause (xvii) of Form D has been amended by replacing the words “in the form of bank draft” with “paid through, inter alia, pay order, bank draft or digital means.”
The initiative is expected to simplify regulatory payment procedures, enhance transparency, and promote ease of doing business by enabling faster, more convenient, and technology-driven fee submission methods.
Story by Mushtaq Ghumman
