New hydel profit formula opposed: Frontier assembly debates NFC award
By Mohammed Riaz
PESHAWAR, March 8: Opposition members in the NWFP Assembly urged the federal government on Monday to honour the rights of provinces and give poverty a special consideration while distributing funds under the next National Finance Commission award.
Speaking on the proposed sixth NFC award and the NWFP government's willingness to settle the net hydel profit issue through arbitration, opposition lawmakers said the NWFP was a backward province where poverty ratio was higher than other provinces.
They also advised the provincial government to take the house into confidence before going to arbitration on the net hydel profit issue with Wapda. They said if the aim of the arbitration was to settle the matter of arrears, the government should resolve it with Wapda or with the federal government.
The legislators opposed any change to the A.G.N. Kazi formula, which according to them, had solved the issue of net profit determination once and for all.
Earlier, the 11th session of the provincial assembly began at the assembly hall with Speaker Bakht Jahan Khan in the chair. The speaker welcomed all the MPAs on the floor of the house by giving a brief speech about the session convened on the opposition's request.
The speaker said there would be no question hour during the session, which had been convened to discuss the formation of the new NFC, net hydel profit and appointments in the health and education departments.
Speaking on the proposed arbitration process, PPP's Abdul Akbar Khan said the NWFP government and Wapda were two main parties to the issue. The federal government and Wapda - two separate parties - could not strike any deal with the NWFP government, he added.
Mr Khan said either the federal government on Wapda's behalf or Wapda being a party to the issue could settle the matter with the NWFP government. He asked the government not to initiate a fresh debate on the agreed A.G.N. Kazi formula, otherwise it might open up a Pandora's box on the net hydel profit determination.
He said Afghan refugees had destroyed the socio-economic infrastructure of the province. "But we have not been paid a single penny for the damage. Refugees were the state guests, but the NWFP had to sustain their burden," he added.
The federal government used to spend Rs39 billion every year for the development of Karachi, but the same was being denied to the NWFP, he added. "Similarly, the federal government pays no attention to the scores of resolutions unanimously adopted by the NWFP Assembly on these issues," he charged.
He alleged that the federal government had not been fair to the federating units on various issues. PML-N's Anwar Kamal Khan criticized the military operation in Fata and said it might cause more harm than good to the country. He said the rulers had become a stooge of the US and were obeying its every order even if it was against their own people.
Those who had been considered as crusaders during the US-sponsored war against the Soviet Union were now being dubbed as terrorists, he added. ANP's Bashir Ahmed Bilour urged the federal government to recognize the rights of Pakhtoons on their resources and allow them to use their wealth for their prosperity as they wished. He accused the Centre of usurping resources of the province.
Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao of PPP-S and Saeed Khan of PML-Q also spoke on the issue. They criticized the performance of the MMA government. Saeed Khan asked the government to resign as it had failed to provide protection to tribesmen in Wana, Southern Waziristan.
Earlier, the house referred a privilege motion tabled by Khalid Waqar Chamkani to the privilege committee. The house also offered Fateha for Abdullah Murad, a member of the Sindh Assembly who was gunned down in Karachi a couple of days ago.
On a point of order, Rifat Akbar Swati of PPP-S demanded constitution of a judicial commission to hold inquiry into transporters demands and killing in Mansehra. Deputy Speaker Ikramullah Shahid criticized the attitude of the National Highway Authority officials towards the MPAs.
