The Minister of Energy, Awais Leghari, ordered the immediate dismissal of seven senior officials of the National Transmission and Exhibition Company (NTDC) for negligence and delays in critical infrastructure projects, the power division announced Wednesday.
Among those withdrawals are the deputy director, two general managers, financial director and three main engineers. The measure follows a high -level performance review meeting, during which the minister expressed a serious concern for inefficiencies and their growing economic cost.
“The NTDC Board has aimed at showing zero tolerance for delays,” Leghari said in the statement, warning that the current setbacks were costing the country “billions of rupees.”
The minister had previously ordered an investigation into persistent delays in key transmission and dispatch projects. Subsequently, the NTDC Board identified systemic failures in the planning and execution of projects, particularly within the planning wing, which had been under the supervision of the officials now distracted.
The investigations revealed that the department failed to comply with the deadlines. In response, the Board issued immediate directives “OSD” (waiting for publication orders) for the MD deputy, both GMS and the CFO. In addition, three main engineers were removed from their positions for what the Board described as “abandonment of duty.”
The NTDC MD has received two weeks to take disciplinary measures against other personnel members, including attached managers and managers who have a lower performance.
In an attempt to review the organization, the NTDC Board also approved a new strategy aimed at addressing chronic inefficiencies in project implementation.
“Each delay in these projects directly damages the economy of Pakistan,” added the minister, indicating the firm commitment of the government to improve responsibility and performance in the energy sector.
