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Pakistan’s power regulator has imposed a Rs10 million fine on the National Grid Company, citing serious violations of safety rules and staff shortages at key transmission sites in Sindh, according to an official order issued on Thursday.
Nepra said the action follows a 41 month investigation involving inspections, hearings and a show cause notice. The inquiry centered on the Jhimpir transmission region in Hyderabad, where major upgrades were approved to strengthen HSE standards but were not properly implemented.
During a May 2022 visit, inspectors found that 220/132kV grid stations were already energized despite still being under construction and without a formal handover, which Nepra termed a “clear breach of procedure.” The regulator noted that NGC had no approved SOPs for taking control of new transmission lines, stations or related assets, raising concerns about operational responsibility and safety.
The order also highlighted extreme staffing shortages. Only two shift engineers were running the grid stations for continuous 48 hour shifts, with no technical support or proper rest. Nepra said similar manpower gaps existed across the South region, where sanctioned posts had remained vacant for nearly three years despite rapid network expansion.
Nepra added that lack of vehicles, safety gear and basic facilities such as water, gas and adequate housing left critical infrastructure “unattended and exposed,” posing risks to both staff and the stability of the national transmission network.
