ISLAMABAD, Oct 29 (APP):Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat met on Thursday at the Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Mehmood ul Hassan.
Senators Saadia Abbasi and Mohammad Abdul Qadir participated in person, while Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan joined the meeting through Zoom.
During consideration of Starred Question No. 67 regarding the Warrant of Precedence, Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan raised concerns over the prolonged delay in its review, observing that three committees had been constituted since 2010 without finalising the matter.
Officials informed the Committee that the committee constituted under the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, notified on July 10, 2026, had last met in July and was expected to finalise its recommendations at its next meeting for submission to the Prime Minister.
The Committee decided to write to the Secretary, Cabinet Division, and the Minister for Law and Justice, seeking a clear timeline for completion of the process. The matter will be taken up again at the next meeting.
The Additional Secretary, SIFC, along with his team, briefed the Committee on the Council’s performance and initiatives over the past three years. The Committee was informed that a pipeline of approximately 38 projects, valued at around USD 40 billion, had been developed across various sectors, including mining, industry, railways, roads, maritime affairs, power, information technology, pharmaceuticals, health, tourism and food security.
The Committee was further informed that the Brownfield Refinery Policy had been approved, with five refineries signing implementation agreements involving proposed investments of approximately USD 6 billion. SIFC officials also highlighted engagements with Chinese companies and investors from Qatar and Kuwait, alongside efforts to facilitate foreign investment through streamlined regulatory procedures, improved visa facilitation and single-window operations.
The Chairman observed that obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) had previously been a major obstacle for investors, but that improvements had been witnessed following SIFC’s intervention.
He stressed the need to further simplify procedures and reduce the regulatory burden on investors. Senator Saadia Abbasi emphasised that the responsibility for bureaucratic inefficiency ultimately rested with the leadership and sought details of concrete incentives being offered to attract foreign investment.
Senator Abdul Qadir highlighted the high cost of doing business in Pakistan compared with regional economies, particularly in terms of energy and financing costs. He also raised concerns regarding multiple regulatory requirements, tax notices, profit repatriation and competition from smuggled goods.
He stressed the need for a coordinated and structured relief mechanism, jointly developed by the Government and the State Bank of Pakistan, to improve investor confidence and protect existing and prospective investments. The Committee underscored the importance of continued efforts by SIFC to facilitate investors and improve Pakistan’s regional competitiveness.
The Committee was apprised of disruptions to trade and business due to the prevailing regional situation, including developments relating to the US–Iran conflict, made it difficult to provide reliable statistical projections and final investment figures at this stage.
Senior officials of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) briefed the Committee in the absence of the Chairman NEPRA, who could not attend due to illness. The briefing covered the operational performance of IPPs, capacity factors, tariff structures, capacity payments and the regulatory framework governing power generation tariffs.
The Committee was informed about power plants had operated below a 50 per cent capacity factor, primarily in the context of variations in grid demand, while no plant had recorded zero electricity generation. NEPRA officials also briefed the Committee on the statutory framework under Section 31 of the NEPRA Act, including cost recovery, return on capital and quarterly tariff indexation for the National Power Parks Management Company (Balloki) project.
The Committee was further informed that third-party heat rate tests for residual fuel oil (RFO)-based power plants had been awarded to NESPAK through an international bidding process. Members emphasised the importance of independent verification of the test results to ensure transparency and accuracy in assessing plant performance.
The Committee also took up a Bill on its agenda; however, its consideration was deferred owing to the absence of the Minister-in-Charge, Mr. Ahad Cheema. The Committee expressed concern over the Minister’s absence and stressed that the presence of the Minister concerned was essential for the effective consideration of government business.
Accordingly, the agenda item was deferred until the next meeting, with a clear direction that the Minister-in-Charge attend the meeting to respond to the Committee and facilitate the business under consideration.
The briefing by the Chairman of the National AML/CFT Authority was also deferred.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Cabinet Division; senior officials of SIFC and NEPRA; and representatives of the relevant ministries and departments.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
