PTI Senator Ali Zafar Criticizes NEPRA’s Net Billing Decision, Calls It a ‘Bomb’ on the Public

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Barrister Ali Zafar has strongly criticized the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) over its recent announcement regarding net billing, calling the move a “bomb” on the public.

Speaking on the issue, Ali Zafar said that NEPRA would purchase electricity from consumers at Rs11 per unit, while the government would sell electricity to the public at Rs40 per unit. “What kind of justice is this?” he questioned.

He said the public had been encouraged to install solar panels with promises of financial benefit. “People took loans to install solar systems and invested hundreds of thousands of rupees in panels,” he stated.

According to the PTI senator, the federal minister responded by saying that the government could never act against the public’s interest and that NEPRA is an independent body responsible for the decision. However, Ali Zafar rejected this claim, asserting that NEPRA is not truly independent and formulates policies based on government directives.

He further alleged that independent power producers (IPPs) are being paid even if they do not generate electricity, adding that the new net billing decision would heavily burden the public.

Ali Zafar demanded that the NEPRA chairman be summoned to the Senate for clarification. He also said that if NEPRA has taken the decision independently and the government claims helplessness, then the government should introduce legislation to address the issue.