Barrister Saif Alleges PML-N and PPP IPPs are ‘Draining Pakistan Like Vampires’

Peshawar: Barrister Dr. Saif, the Information Advisor for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has accused the familiar IPPs associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of draining the country’s resources akin to a looming threat. In a statement, Barrister Dr. Saif described private power producers as the “second face of corruption for the elite,” asserting that political aristocracy monopolized these IPPs since the 1990s, imposing them on the public.
He questioned the origins of IPP contracts in 1994, 2002, and 2015, emphasizing the lack of audits in three decades despite contracts expiring and being renewed at the behest of influential families and personalities. Dr. Saif demanded the immediate cancellation of IPP contracts, attributing them to economic deterioration in the country. He stressed the necessity for transparent investigations, predicting that scrutiny would implicate figures from prominent families like the Sharifs and Zardaris.
Highlighting a 2012 Supreme Court verdict exposing corruption within IPPs, Dr. Saif criticized the enduring influence of the elite, alleging ongoing exploitation of national wealth through IPPs despite their mandate to end load shedding remaining unfulfilled.
The call for accountability comes amid growing concerns over economic mismanagement and calls for reform in Pakistan’s energy sector.