October 14, 2001	Sunday	Rajab 26, 1422

PESHAWAR, Oct 13: The NWFP government has constituted a special committee to prepare its case on the province’s net hydel profit share for presenting the same before the National Finance Commission, official sources told Dawn here on Friday.

A decision to this effect has recently been taken at a high-level meeting thereby the committee has been necessitated to look into detail all aspects of the contentious issue.

The move, said sources, had been necessitated to make a solid case for the NFC in an attempt to seek protection for its share under the new award.

The committee will comprise provincial minister for irrigation and power Shams-ul-Mulk, minister for excise and taxation Aminullah Gandapur whereas minister for finance, planning and development Farid Rehman will head the committee.

Besides, a legal expert would also be taken on the committee to take into account the legal aspects of the provincial share and claim involving billions of rupees against Wapda.

Legal expert will be nominated after approval by the NWFP governor who soon be moved some names from amongst the professionals of law.

NWFP has a claim of over Rs70 billion arrears against Wapda on account of net hydel profit share.

Besides, it has also a claim of about Rs2.4 billion against Wapda on account of inflated billing (charged to provincial government departments by Wapda) and at source deduction made from the provincial account during the period from financial year 1994-95 to 1996-97.

The committee, said a senior member of the provincial government, would take into account projections (of provincial share of net hydel profit) reflected under the current NFC award.