Former Caretaker Minister of Commerce Gohar Ejaz sharing data of Capacity Payments said Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were paid Rs150 billion in the first three months of this year, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

In a statement, he shared that these monthly payments, amounting to Rs 150 billion, were made from January to March 2024.

Ejaz highlighted a concerning issue where many IPPs operated less than 10% capacity. Despite this, four power plants received Rs 10 billion each month without generating any electricity.

He criticized this practice, stating, "Our hard-earned money is being paid to forty families under the guise of capacity payments."

 Ejaz argued that power plants should only receive payments when they produce electricity.

He emphasized the need for fair representation of all stakeholders in the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and urged the government to refrain from conducting business at the expense of public funds.

 "Consumers should not be mistreated," Ejaz stated,

Reporter: Waqas Azeem