Rising regional tensions and long-standing energy and governance issues came under discussion on Tuesday as the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution met in Islamabad. Lawmakers were warned that instability in Iran could push up petroleum prices in the coming weeks and may even lead to fuel shortages if the situation worsens.
The warning was issued by the Secretary of the Petroleum Division while briefing the committee. He said Pakistan, like many countries in the region, remains vulnerable to external shocks in the oil market and must prepare for possible supply disruptions.
The meeting was presided over by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, who was unanimously nominated as chair. Senators Sardar Al-Haj Muhammad Umer Gorgaij and Poonjo Bheel attended the session, while Senator Jan Mohammad Buledi participated as a special invitee.
During the meeting, Senator Poonjo Bheel raised concerns about the Thar Coal Project, saying residents of Islamkot were promised 300 units of free electricity but were still receiving regular bills. Officials clarified that the government had approved 100 free electricity units per month for 4,688 consumers in the area.
Briefing the committee on power sector matters, the Special Secretary of the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) explained that power assets funded by the federal government belong to the centre, while those built by provinces are owned by the provinces. He added that provinces are free to sell electricity generated from their own infrastructure at rates they decide.
Chairman Ghumro expressed concern over costly agreements signed with private power producers in the past, saying these contracts continue to burden the national economy. He stressed the need to give more operational control to distribution companies so they can manage affairs independently and reduce pressure on the federal government.
On administrative matters, the Special Secretary of the Establishment Division informed the committee that ministries maintain quota rosters and that unfilled provincial quotas are usually carried forward. However, Ghumro voiced serious concern over the low representation of Balochistan and Sindh in federal posts, directing authorities to fill their shares on a priority basis.
He also instructed the Establishment Division to issue formal directions to all ministries and autonomous bodies to ensure provincial representation without delay, and to share compliance details with the committee. The committee further ordered verification of domiciles of federal employees following reports of appointments made on fake documents.
The meeting concluded with strong dissatisfaction over incomplete data presented by officials. The committee directed authorities to submit province-wise details of employees and budget allocations at the next session.
