ISLAMABAD: A major controversy has erupted as the chairman and members of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) approved a staggering 220% salary increase without seeking approval from relevant authorities, including the federal cabinet. This unauthorized raise has sparked outrage, with critics calling it a blatant misuse of power.
Sources from NEPRA reveal that the salary hike now places top officials in an elite pay bracket. Monthly salaries have jumped from six-figure sums to millions, disguised under the headings of ad-hoc relief and regulatory allowances. The revised figures show the chairman’s total pay package soaring to Rs3.2 million, while each of the four members now receives Rs2.9 million. Previously, a 2023 notification had capped total salaries at Rs1 million, but the latest increase has shattered those limits.
Former NEPRA chairman Taufeeq H. Farooqi, who led the authority until August 2023, expressed concern over the abrupt salary surge. Speaking to Geo News, he disclosed that his total monthly earnings, including perks and allowances, were Rs790,000. During his tenure, members earned around Rs740,000. He emphasized that any pay revision for NEPRA officials requires federal cabinet approval, which was bypassed in this case.
Legal experts highlight that Section 8 of the NEPRA Act, 1997, outlines salary regulations for the authority’s top officials. The law states that any salary increase must be approved by the federal government. Additionally, it stipulates that salaries should align with the specialized nature of the work and remain competitive with private-sector compensation. However, most NEPRA executives are retired bureaucrats who previously earned between Rs600,000 to Rs700,000 before retirement. Sources confirm that the current chairman and two members from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are also retired government officials.
This unprecedented NEPRA salary hike raises serious questions about accountability and transparency within the regulatory body. Critics argue that such decisions, made without proper authorization, undermine public trust in the institution responsible for overseeing the power sector. The federal cabinet’s response to this controversial move remains to be seen.
