NWFP decides to fight hydel profit issue in SC
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—The NWFP Cabinet which met here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani decided to fight legal battle in the Supreme Court against the case filed by the WAPDA in reaction to the decision of the arbitration commission which has asked the WAPDA to pay due amount to the Frontier Province out of the net hydel profit.
The cabinet has taken strong notice of the delaying tactics of WAPDA in implementing the Arbitration Commission decision and has requested the Federal Government to ensure implementation on the decision. On this occasion, two committees were constituted with the Provincial Minister for Law Zafar Azam as Chairman and Provincial Minister for Food Fazle Rabbani as Member of the 1 st Committee. This committee will prepare the case in light of the proposals of a well known lawyer Abdul Hafiz Pirzada and pursue it in the Supreme Court.
The 2nd committee comprising Speaker Provincial Assembly as its chairman and Provincial Ministers Fazle Ali Haqqani and Inayatullah and others as members will make consultations with all the political leaders within and outside the assembly in order to evolve a unanimous stance on the issue. On this occasion, the second committee was directed to start its work from today and consult prominent political forces, elected members, including senators, MNAs, MPAs district Nazimeen, Naib Nazimeen and Tehsil Nazimeen of the province to develop a consensus in this regard. The Chief Minister and cabinet appealed to the people to arrange Salat-e-Hajat and Quran Khawani in Madaris and Mosques so that the province could get its due right in the net hydel profit as per decision of the Arbitration Commission.
The cabinet was also briefed on the sale of Pehur Hydro Power House. It was informed that the 18 MW Pehur Hydro Power Project was being completed under the supervision of the Provincial Government. It was further informed the on the pattern of the proposed tariff for Malakand-III Project, the tariff for Pehur Project could be determined from 5.95 cent to 4.76 cent per unit.
The cabinet approved in principle to negotiate with NEPRA to sale electricity generated from Pehur Power Project to WAPDA and directed that the negotiating team should comprise a team of experts. The cabinet also approved extension in the period for disposing of timber lying along the K.K.H in view of the weather condition. The period was fixed as March 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007.
Addressing the meeting the chief minister said that his Government had devised a comprehensive strategy for the overall development of the province in view of the Arbitration Commission decision. However, he regretted that the development process of the province would be blocked due to delaying tactics of WAPDA. He said that the Federal Government had endorsed the constitution of the Arbitration Commission. However, the Provincial Government had decided to get the right of the people of this province amicably and within the ambit of law.
He said that the people of this area were united for their rights who would join hands with the Provincial Government irrespective of their political affiliation to get their due rights. He agreed with the cabinet that public reaction might come in case if they were deprived of their rights. He said, they had never adopted confrontational attitude rather they wanted resolution of problems through mutual understanding with the Federal Government.
He expressed the hope that the Province after getting its rights could promote productive sector through its own resources and ensure rapid socio-economic development of the province thus achieving self reliance in food as well as eliminating unemployment and poverty.
The Chief Minister said that it was the duty of the democratic Government to provide all basic amenities, including food, shelter, healthcare to the people saying that the government had decided to establish an institution for the purpose with its office at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Renowned scholars and ex-chief secretary NWFP Mr. Abdullah will be head of the institution, which in collaboration with well-to-do persons will determine the procedure for provision of the above mentioned facilities to the poor people. He said that the MMA Government was determined to establish a true welfare society therefore he appealed to the philanthropists to extend their helping hand to the Government for this noble cause.