The chairman and members of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) have awarded themselves a shocking 220% pay raise. They did this without approval from the federal cabinet, sources told Geo News.
According to NEPRA insiders, officials increased their salaries to between Rs2 million and Rs2.2 million. They bypassed the mandatory approval process. The raises were given under the titles of ad-hoc relief and regulatory allowance.
Chairman’s Salary Jumps to Rs3.2 Million
The biggest salary hike went to the NEPRA chairman. His salary has now reached Rs3.2 million. The four members also saw their pay rise to Rs2.9 million.
An October 2023 revised notification stated that total salaries, including benefits, should not exceed Rs1 million. However, officials ignored this limit.
Former NEPRA chairman Taufeeq H Farooqi shared details about past salaries. Speaking to Geo News, he revealed that his total monthly salary, including perks, was Rs790,000.
During his tenure, members received around Rs740,000 per month. He clarified that only the federal cabinet could approve such salary hikes.
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NEPRA Act Violated
The salary, perks, and benefits of NEPRA officials are outlined in Section 8 of the NEPRA Act, 1997. The law states that the federal government must approve any salary changes. In this case, officials decided their pay raise without government approval.
The law also requires that salaries should match the specialised nature of their work. They should also be competitive with private sector pay.
Most NEPRA Officials Are Retired Bureaucrats
Many NEPRA chairpersons and members are retired government officials. Before retirement, they earned between Rs600,000 and Rs700,000.
Currently, the NEPRA chairman and two members from KP and Balochistan are retired bureaucrats. Sources say they increased their salaries far beyond their last government pay.
Public Outrage Over Misuse of Power
The self-approved salary hikes have sparked criticism. Many see this as a blatant abuse of power. The government has yet to respond to the revelations.
Experts urge authorities to take action against those responsible. They demand that NEPRA officials return the unauthorised salary increases.
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