The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has approved the bill seeking the imposition of a three-year sentence for officers found involved in overbilling and inaccurate billing practices, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Federal Power Minister Awais Laghari has said that power officers and officials will be given three-year jail term over inaccurate billing.

The National Assembly has passed the legislation targeting overbilling by the power distribution companies (Discos), whereby the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will only identify cases of overbilling and report them to the Nepra.

Laghari however, made it clear that Federal Investigation Agency will only probe overbilling complaints against any of the power officers and FIA has not been given powers to arrest or take any other action against the accused. FIA will submit its interrogation report to Nepra only and Nepra will be handed over the sentence to the accused.

Laghari claimed that govt has fulfilled its promise to amend the Nepra Act and after the amendment, officers found guilty of overbilling will be taken to the task.

Federal Minister said in order to avoid harassment of power officers by FIA teams, NEPRA rules have been modified. However, FIA's identification of the overbilling offence will be actionable under the amended NEPRA Act.

Nepra claimed that the regulations were revised to prevent unnecessary harassment by the FIA, clarifying that the FIA would not be responsible for the arrest of officers found involved in over billing as FIA will only interrogate the overbilling claims and submit its report to Nepra.

Reporter: Shahid Sipra