The federal government has to pay Rs 500 billion as Net Hydel Profit (NHP) to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as per AGN Kazi formula. This issue was deliberated in the meeting of Senate Committee on Water Resources headed by Senator Shamim Afridi on Friday with special reference to the reasons for the delay in payment of royalty on account of electricity generation to KP under AGN Kazi formula.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami argued that KPK should be given Net Hydel Profit (NHP) as per Kazi Committee Methodology (KCM). Senator Mushtaq Ahmed who had raised this issue in the Senate on December 12, 2018 expressed astonishment at Wapda's stance that there are discrepancies in AGN Kazi report and it has no legal foundation. "If the report has no legal foundation, then why was it endorsed from 1991 to 2018," he questioned, adding that the Centre is indebted to KPK of Rs 500 billion.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed stated the people were lamenting increase I. electricity prices. Chairman Standing Committee stated that the AGN Kazi committee report has been endorsed by the Supreme Court and Council of Common Interests (CCI) maintaining that the word "illegal" or "immoral" should not have been written in the brief. He said whatever treatment will be given to Balochistan and KP, other provinces will get the same treatment.
"By writing the word 'illegal' abuse has been hurled in a polite manner. I thought I am not a citizen of this country," Chairman Standing Committee observed and asked that whoever wrote these words must tender an apology. According to the official statement, the committee on Water Resources took serious notice of the word 'unconstitutional' used for the AGN Kazi formula related to payment of royalty on account of electricity generation.
The committee said that the matter must be probed in detail as to how it was termed "unconstitutional". The committee termed it an insult to Parliament. It was decided that no further action on this agenda item would be taken unless this matter was cleared.
Wapda officials informed the committee that the cost estimate of remaining part of Kachhi canal is lying with the Planning Commission for the last 13 months. Chairman Irsa, Sher Zaman Khan briefed the committee that No Objection Certificate (NoC) for supply of 6000 cusecs to Balochistan has been issued but the province gets only 2000 cusecs of water due to lack of infrastructure.
Chairman Standing Committee was visibly angry at the absence of Chief Secretary Balochistan from the meeting. "Who should we approach for improving the system? Chief Secretary Balochistan does not bother to attend the Standing Committee meeting despite the fact he has been invited again and again," said Chairman Standing Committee, Senator Shamim Afridi.
Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini proposed that privilege motion be moved against Chief Secretary Balochistan for ignoring the meeting notices. While discussing the feasibility of water supply from Indus River (Chashma or DI Khan point) to Zhob Division Balochistan, the Committee was informed that currently no feasibility study was being carried out.
The committee asserted that Wapda would require a detailed feasibility report, without which it is impossible to move ahead. The Ministry assured the committee that a feasibility study would be conducted after obtaining permission from the Balochistan government. The committee issued directions to the Government of Balochistan to facilitate the process.
Chairman Committee Senator Shamim Afridi maintained that the trend of dividing projects into phases must be curbed, since this was the main cause for delay. The project must be given priority as a whole, he added. Chaired by Senator Shamim Afridi, the meeting was attended by Senator Ahmed Khan, Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Sana Jamali, Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah and senior officers of the Ministry of Water Resources along with other concerned officials. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed attended the meeting as special invitee.
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