LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notice to the federal government and others for filling reply within four weeks on a petition challenging the levy of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) on the consumers of electricity.
The court also summoned relevant authorities including NEPRA for July 16 on an application to stay recovery of 11 billion GIDC from electricity consumers.
Justice Shahid Mubeen passed orders on a petition filed by Judicial Activism Panel Chairman Azhar Siddique.
Earlier, the petitioner-counsel arguing before the court submitted the president earlier had promulgated the GIDC ordinance but the superior courts had declared it as void and now it had been again imposed through an act.
He said that under Section 4 of GIDC Act, the government had to use the fund for infrastructure development of Iran- Pakistan pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghan-Pakistan pipeline project.
He said that NEPRA through an order of June 5, 2015 has passed on the GIDC on consumers of electricity at the rate of 72 paisas per unit. He added that it was unjust and it is violation of Article 9 and 14 of the constitution. He pleaded the court to declare GIDC Act-2015 as ultra vires of the constitution.
The court after recording initial arguments sought a reply from respondents within four weeks.
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