Tribunal set up to resolve WAPDA, NWFP profit row
By Zulfiqar Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday said signing of agreement between WAPDA and NWFP government to set up arbitral tribunal would resolve 15 years old dispute of net profit from hydroelectricity projects. Under this agreement an arbitral tribunal has been set up to decide the dispute between the government of NWFP and WAPDA over the computation of net hydel profit.
The agreement as singed here at Prime Minister House between the government of NWFP and WAPDA in the presence of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chief Minister NWFP Akram Khan Durani, Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam, Finance Minister of NWFP Siraj ul Haq and Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Salman Shah.
It was signed by Chairman WAPDA Tariq Hameed, Zia ur Rehman Secretary Finance NWFP and Ishfaque Mahmood Secretary Ministry of Water and Power.
The tribunal will be headed by Justice (Retd) Ajmal Mian, former Justice of Supreme Court while its members include Senator Prof. Khurshid Ahmed and Abdullah Chairman NWFP Public Service Commission from NWFP, while Javaid Akhtar Ex-member (Power) WADPA and Manzoor A. Sheikh Ex-member (Finance) WAPDA will represent WADPA.
Talking to newsmen after the signing ceremony the Prime Minister said it would provide an acceptable and practical solution to distribute the profit from the hydel projects of WAPDA working in NWFP.
The Prime Minister said both WAPDA and NWFP government had agreed to settle the issue amicably through negotiations, therefore five member committee has been constituted to resolve the issue of share of the NWFP from the hydroelectricity projects.
Shaukat Aziz said the committee has been given six months period to find an acceptable solution to all the stakeholders. Expressing his satisfaction on this process to constitute a committee of arbitrators, the Prime Minister said it would find a permanent solution to the problem of share of NWFP from the power generation projects of WAPDA. He said it would provide benefit to all the stakeholders.
The Prime Minister said its a good and amicable way to resolve the issues between the provinces.
Shaukat Aziz expressed the hope that the solution to the problem would be based on justice and provide clear guidelines to interpret the legal aspects regarding the share of NWFP in the profit of hydroelectricity projects.
The Prime Minister said government believes in coordination and better harmony with the provinces, and appreciated the NWFP government, WAPDA and Ministry of Water and Power for accepting the setting up of the tribunal to solve the long standing issue.
NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani while talking to newsmen thanked President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and federal government for taking personal interest to resolve this 15- year old dispute of NWFP with WAPDA.
He said its decision would be a milestone in Pakistan’s history and promote better harmony and understanding between the federation and provinces.
The NWFP Chief Minister said today, being 27th of Ramzan ul Mubarak, an important day for the people of NWFP as they would get more funds for their welfare and development after the decision of this tribunal.
He said the NWFP government would participate in the tribunal with open heart and present its case according to the report of A.G.N. Qazi to get their right share.
He said it would brought prosperity in NWFP as there was shortage of the funds in the province for development projects.