Net profit on electricity generation: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa political parties ask Centre to ensure payment of arrears

An All Parties Jirga of political parties of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday demanded of the federal government to ensure payment of the outstanding arrears of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the head of net profit on hydropower generation under Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.
The all parties meeting was held here at Chief Minister's House on Tuesday with Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti in the chair. Those who attended the meeting included Maulana Mohammad Qasim MNA of JUI-F, Abdul Akbar Khan of PPP, Qalandar Khan Lodhi of PML-Q, Sikandar Hayat Sherpao of PPP-Sherpao, Shabir Ahmad Khan of JI, Asad Qaiser of PTI, Javed Abbasi of PML-N, Irfanul Haq, Mohammad Iftikhar Khan Chamkani of PML-Q, Dr Sadiq Ahamd, Dr, Mohammad Zakir Shah, Syed Zahir Ali Shah of PPP, Mukhtiar Yusufzai of PkMAP, Mian Iftikhar Hussein and Afrasiab Khan Khattak of ANP.
Briefing media, Mian Iftikhar Hussein said that the Jirg had demanded of the federal government to implement the decision of the Arbitration Tribunal in letter and spirit and ensure the payment of Rs 110 billion. The meeting further demanded of the federal government for taking notice of the stubborn attitude of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and play role in resolution of the three important matters.
It said that the lack of trust between federal and provincial government could be removed only through guaranteeing the constitutional rights of the province. The lack of trust between the province and federal government is based on the three matters.
It said that WAPDA has capped payment of the net profit on electricity to the province at Rs 6 billion since 1991-92, which is sheer injustice with the province. The Arbitration Tribunal in its decision for the period from 1991-92 to 2004-05 under AGN Qazi Formula has estimated the arrears at Rs 110 billion and in case of the failure in payment a mark up of 10 percent was also included in it.
In light of that decision of the tribunal, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has an outstanding amount of Rs 258 billion against WAPDA till June 2011. The Jirga demanded immediate payment of the amount. The jirga also decided that the fixation of the net profit on electricity from the year 2005-06 would be based 10 per cent mark-up as per AGN Qazi Formula and Arbitration Tribunal.