ISLAMABAD: Senate on Tuesday passed “the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to enable the CNG stations to clear outstanding amount of Rs 12 billion of the GIDC.
The bill was moved by the State Minister Economic and Revenue Muhammad Rana Afzal.
The motion to consider the bill was passed as 25 lawmakers voted in favour while 16 legislators voted against the motion.
Later second and third reading of the bill was made and it was passed through voice voting. Senators from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and MQM staged token walk out from the preceding of the House.
Statement of objects and Reasons says CNG stations in Pakistan were collecting the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) pursuant to the provisions of GIDC Act, 2015 through Sale Price of CNG notified by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority from time to time. However the same was not paid to M/s Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company limited for its onward payment to Federal Government on account of various court stay orders.
The CNG Stations through the All Pakistan CNG Association, have now agreed with the Federal Government to pay approximately half of the Cess payable pertaining to the period from January 01,2012 to May 22, 2015 amounting to Rs 12 billion.
In order to effectuate the above settlement, an amendment in the existing GIDC, Act, 2015 will be required through the GIDC (amendment) bill, 2018. It is further certified that the bill is not a Money Bill.
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