ONE of the biggest injustices done against the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the denial of hydropower profits for the past many years.

By some estimates, it amounts to more than Rs110 billion, an amount that can spearhead the development of the entire province and its surrounding.

The federal government claims that there are not enough funds to pay them the whole amount immediately, but then they are also not paying the yearly amount fixed by courts.

There is a solution for this problem.

During the reign of Ayub Khan, a novel idea was implemented where the rate of electricity and natural gas for industries was lowered for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Many large industries were set up and worked well in the province. When the policy was ended by the federal government, the large industries also moved to Punjab and Sindh.

Therefore the federal government can allow subsidy on electricity and natural gas rate, which can be paid to compensate for the royalty for KP’s hydropower use. This subsidiary will entice large industries to set up shops in the province, creating jobs and secondary industries.

Saman Khan

Peshawar

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play