By SKM
April 17, 2025
ISLAMABAD: In an unexpected development Mr Mathar Niaz Rana, Member Tariff in NEPRA has resigned. He was representing Balochistan province in the electric power regulator.
“His 3 year-term was scheduled to end in August 2025, but he opted to resign 4 months before. Mr Mathar Niaz Rana was not attending the office because of some health issues. However, the vibes emanating from the Baluchistan government were that Mr Mathar Niaz Rana may not be selected again for representing the province in NEPRA as Chief Minister Baluchistan Sarfraz Bugti was not satisfied with his output in the NEPRA.
According to NEPRA sources, Mathar Niaz Rana submitted his resignation with NEPRA registrar on April 11, 2025. Registrar forwarded it to NEPRA chairman on the same day. NEPRA chairman as summary to the cabinet Division about his resignation with a covering note, Now the resignation is in the PM office for approval.”
Mr Mathar Niaz Rana has described the reason for resignation saying that due to family considerations he has resigned, according to the Cabinet Division.
However, sources quoted Baluchistan CM as saying the province was not properly safeguarded in the decisions of the NEPRA. Baluchistan CM said in his argument, according to the sources, that the Sindh government benefits from his member Engr. Rafique Ahmad Shaikh who is always seen as vigilant to accommodate Sindh interest in authority’s decisions and likewise, KPK and Punjab government are satisfied with their members.”
Under the rule, a Member of the Authority submits the resignation with the cabinet division and then it sends to PM office for approval.
This scribe sent a question to Member Baluchistan Mr Mathar Niaz Rana seeking his confirmation or denial on the development, but he opted to keep mum. This scribe called him many times, but Mr Rana didn’t attend the call.
However, a controversy in NEPRA emerged after a dissenting note that Member (Tariff) for Balochistan, Mathar Niaz Rana wrote. He had opposed the regulator’s decision to reject a review application from Karachi-based industrial consumer Muhammad Arif Bilwani. Bilwani had raised concerns about the weaknesses in the matter of K-Electric’s power generation tariff, but his request was dismissed on technical grounds.
In his dissenting note, Rana highlighted that Nepra had previously allowed similar review requests, including those made by the federal government. He argued that the Nepra Act, which aims to protect consumer interests and ensure transparency, should provide an accessible and affordable mechanism for the public to challenge decisions. Rana as a Tariff Member in NEPRA criticized the regulator for restricting public participation through procedural technicalities and called for a minimal or no-cost process to encourage public engagement.
According to top sources in NEPRA, his approach was not well received in NEPRA as in almost every matter he had a dissenting note with significant delays on his part which impacted the overall functioning as well as efficiency of NEPRA. Now the NEPRA is set to announce the tariffs of IPPs, bassge-based power plants, but member tariff is missing and has resigned. “This will bring name to the Authority that its Member Tariff is not on board when NEPRA gives the verdicts.
Mathar Niaz Rana held important government posts in the past. He remained secretary Planning Commission, Chief Secretary of Baluchistan. He also served as Chief Secretary of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Ends
