The provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution demanding of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources for the levy of Federal Excise Duty on crude oil. The house also passed two more resolutions regarding payment of the arrears and mark-up in head of net-profit to province and maximum increase in the share of the province in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The joint resolutions carrying the signatures of Habig-ur-Rehman (JI), Abdul Monim Khan AJI, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha (PPP), Mufti Said Janan (JUI-F), Shah Farman (PTI), Raja Faisal Zaman (PML-N), Ahmad Khan Bahadar (ANP) and Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli of QWP were presented by Sikandar Hayat Sherpao of QWP, Provincial Minister Mohammad Atif Khan and Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli. The Speaker, Asad Qaiser, who was presiding over the proceedings of the house suspended the rules to allow the movers to present the joint resolutions.
Though the resolution moved by the parliamentary leader of QWP, Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, the house demanded of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to under Article 161 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan issue the notification of the levy of Federal Oil Excise Duty on crude oil with immediate effect, so the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) include it in the formula of the prices of petroleum products after which the federal government while following all other legal formalities should implement this clause of the constitution with immediate effect.
The assembly also demanded that under Article 158 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the natural gas produced in the province should be provided on the discretion of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, so it could be utilised it according to its priorities, which would put the province on the track of progress and development. The resolution said that instead of the handing over of 100MCF gas to Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB), it should be handed to the provincial government to install thermal power plant and generate 800MW electricity and get the province rid of the power load shedding.
The provincial assembly also demanded that 14.82 percent of the imported LNG to the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accelerate the pace of development in the province.
The assembly also demanded of the federal government to issue immediate directives to Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) to ensure the installation of gas meters, which is very essential in Karak, Kohat and Hangu districts of the province.
Through the second resolution, the house diverted the attention of the federal government towards the unpaid amount in head of the capped net-profit hydel profit, which also includes arrears in head of mark-up charged due to the lack of payment. The assembly demanded the immediate payment of the concerned amount, so it could make solid planning for the coming annual budget.
The assembly further demanded the provision of sovereign guarantee to make possible foreign investment for initiating power projects in hydel and other sectors of the province. The house further demanded that most of the feasibility studies of the hydel power projects in the province had already been prepared, which should be included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to ensure the provision of cheap electricity in the country.
Through the third resolution, the assembly demanded of the federal government for making maximum increase in the share of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and immediate release of the outstanding 83 percent fund to enable the timely completion of these projects. The assembly also demanded the declaration of the funds of PSDP projects non-lapsable, so the province could not be affected.
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