Report by Engineering Post
A number of regulatory bodies generate resources for the Federal Government through their profits by way of levy of fees, charges, penalties, penalties etc after settling their authorized expenses.
As per information available from official documents, this a brief look at Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (ORA) viz a viz their mandatory functions and duties.
Accordingly, PTA is mandated to regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and provision of telecommunication services in Pakistan, dispose off applications for the use of radio frequency spectrum, promote and protect the interests of users of telecommunication services in Pakistan, promote the availability of a wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Pakistan, promote rapid modernization of telecommunication systems and telecommunication services, investigate and adjudicate on complaints and other claims made against licensees arising out of alleged contraventions of the provisions of the Act, the rules made and licenses issued thereunder. It also imposes fines and penalties for violations.
National Electric Power Regulatory Authority is mandated to develop and pursue a regulatory framework, which ensures the provision of safe, reliable, efficient and affordable electric power to the electricity consumers of Pakistan.
It facilitates the transition from a protected monopoly service structure to a competitive environment and maintaining a balance between the interests of the consumers and service providers in unison with the broad economic and social policy objectives of the Government of Pakistan.
In order to ensure effective regulatory functions, NEPRA charges different fees at rates notified from time to time for Application & Modification Generation License Fee, Application & Modification Transmission License Fee, Application & Modification Distribution License Fee, Application for the Approval of Competitive Bidding. Besides, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority upfront tariff is also levied like Fees Pertaining to Tariff Standards and Procedures Regulations 2002 i.e. Generation Licenses, Transmission Licenses, Distribution Licenses, Consumers, etc.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has been set up under the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGA) Ordinance of March 2002 to foster competition, increase private investment and ownership in the midstream and downstream petroleum industry, to protect the public interest while respecting individual rights and provide effective and efficient regulations in order to implement regulatory framework . Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority issues Licenses to oil marketing companies, gas distribution networks, fertilizer manufacturing plant etc. and charge fees for these services. It also carries out oil and gas distribution networks and imposes penalties in case of violations.
This submission is for providing necessary information to the concerned sectors and also to enable them to see whether these regulatory bodies were functioning according to their mandatory functions and obligations or not, please.
