The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has imposed a Rs 10 million fine on National Grid Company (NGC) after a prolonged investigation found major safety and operational lapses in its transmission network serving the Jhimpir region of Sindh.
According to NEPRA’s order, issued by a three-to-one majority, NGC neglected to complete critical upgrades and failed to formally hand over newly constructed 220/132 kV grid stations — energising them despite the absence of official commissioning and without any approved standard-operating procedures (SOPs).
The regulator’s inspection (conducted in May 2022) also highlighted an acute manpower shortage, especially in NGC’s South region, where at one grid station only two shift engineers were on duty for two consecutive days without support staff — a clear breach of safety protocols.
In addition, numerous grid-sites lacked basic amenities and infrastructure: there was insufficient staff, no proper transport, inadequate safety equipment, and even basic facilities like water, gas and electricity were absent — and many stations were located in remote areas without paved road access. These deficiencies, NEPRA concluded, compromised both employee safety and the reliability of the electricity grid.
Given the seriousness of these failures — despite NGC having received sufficient HSE (health, safety and environment) investment allowances — NEPRA determined that a monetary penalty was warranted under the relevant regulations.