ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Tuesday passed the 'Private Power and Infrastructure Board Bill' (PPIB) 2011 with certain amendments.
The National Assembly has already passed the bill.
The bill moved by Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar was aimed at attracting and facilitating private investment in power generation and allied infrastructure projects in the country.
Leader of the Opposition Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri and Senators Haji Adeel, Maulana Gul Naseeb and Abdur Rahim Mandokhel opposed the bill and termed it infringements in rights of the provinces after the 18th amendments.
They said that the bill needed further improvement and hence it should not be passed in hurry. They were of the view that objectives of 18th Amendment were not taken into consideration before moving the bill. They said that it was a matter of more importance and it would be better if it is deferred for further discussion.
However, the House rejected their objections and passed the bill with majority.
Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar piloted the bill in the House.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill says that the PPIB was created under 1994 power policy to act as a one window operation for attracting and facilitating private investment in power generation and allied infrastructure projects. PPIB was duly notified through a notification No F.PPC-3(33)/94 dated August 2, 1994.
Due to the following reasons, it was felt utmost necessity to make PPIB a statutory institution through an Act of the Parliament:
It is expected that the draft statue will inspire private and public sectors' confidence in the authority, credibility, efficiency and permanence of PPIB.
The donor agencies, while commending the role/achievements of PPIB have time and again mentioned that PPIB should have a legal status.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) even made the "statutory status" of PPIB as one of the conditions of its multi-tranch financing facility extended to the government of Pakistan.
Large-scale reforms for private sector participation in power generation and related infrastructure are taking place.
The legal status of PPIB has already been called in question in litigation.
In order to avoid legal complications it is imperative to give PPIB a legal status.
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