Energy Minister challenges JI Chief to debate on IPPs

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Laghari has issued a public challenge to Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman for a debate on the contentious issue of Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

In an interview with a private TV channel, Laghari expressed his readiness for an open debate, inviting Hafiz Naeem to bring along some engineers as well to support his case.

Laghari acknowledged that raising awareness about the IPPs issue is commendable, but he warned against politicising it. His comments come in response to Hafiz Naeem’s recent warning to the government that the Supreme Court might be approached regarding the IPPs matter.

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Hafiz Naeem has called for a public negotiation in front of the media to determine the truth.

“We should be shown power purchase agreements so that [things are transparent for the public],” Hafiz Naeem said. He also highlighted that the government should not burden the public with capacity charges for government-owned IPPs.

The JI chief further demanded that the contracts of IPPs, which have expired, are terminated. He said that the sit-in protest would continue until it is done.