Top Story

  Editorial

  Metro

  Kashmir

  Business

  Sports

  Scoop

  Societal

  Health

    Cartoon

Net Hydle Profit & Frontier's Hardships

> ALLAH Almighty has bestowed NWFP with abundant natural resources. Our snow covered mountains, rushing and gushing streams, rivers, precious mineral wealths, fertile lands and hardworking manpower all constituted big resource potential at this geo-political important region of the globe. But unfortunately no comprehensive planning was made in the past to utilize these resources in efficient manner with least concerns to ameliorate lot of poor masses and remove the immense backwardness prevalent over here. Each and every past governments planned on adhoc basis to achieve political and self interests only while those showing a grain of sincerity were obstructed and discouraged. This is very reason this rich soil of our motherland is undergoing the marshes of ever increasing poverty and backwardness today bringing it atop all over the country in this respect as acknowledged at national and international fora.

It does not mean our other provinces enjoyed riches, development, people prosperous, satisfied or economy exemplary there. It is also day light fact that millions of poor also have to sleep hungry every second nights in parts of Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan. As J.I. activist, I had to visit nook and corner of the entire country and hence witnessed people were even longing for basic facilities like potable water and medicare. However the fresh official surveys showed NWFP is atop other provinces in poverty and unemployment highlighting its bleak economic position.

MMA Government was faced with enormous challenges including its deteriorating economy a months ago when it came into the state of affairs. It is astonishing that despite all its resources having duly exploited by the centre, every provincial government has to beg funds from the federal government every year even for its routine expenditures. Presently we have to rely on centre for our 90% revenues. It then depends on federal government to how, when and how much pay as per its sweat wishes. Hydle power generation and tobacco crop are our two main cash earning resources. But since both these resources are directly controlled by the Federal Government, hence we have to wait for payment of our share of profit in this respect. Though our constitution has very clearly and candidly mentioned rights of the provinces and responsibilities of the centre but the later is continuously and intentionally over-sighting implementation on its own decisions. A clear example is that of hydle net profit. The constitution has bestowed right of hydle net profit to the province where hydle power is generated but despite this vivid explanation, NWFP could not receive its due share of hydle net profit since promulgation of this law in statute. AGN Qazi Committee has also conceded to our this right constituted under NFC recommendations in 1990. This decision of AGN Qazi formula was even guaranteed by the President but unfortunately WAPDA is continuously violating this decision and the well accepted formula is intentionally kept in the cold storage. WAPDA is even intransigently delaying payment of outstanding hydle net profit dues of NWFP which have now reached upto the tune of Rs. 309 billions. Interestingly but regrettably WAPDA has adopted its own derived modus operandi since 1993 wherein NWFP is paid Rs. 6 billion annually which is sheer violation of the set provisions and rules under Qazi formula as well as the constitution.

In such challenging circumstances when our national and international bodies officially declared NWFP on top of other provinces in poverty and backwardness where there is reign of joblessness and frustration among our youth despite our geo-strategic importance in the entire region, our centre is duty bound not to become hurdle in providing due rights to this poverty stricken province especially in respect of hydle net profit and tobacco crop earnings being its only and lion share of income. This just and generous step on part of our federal government would certainly contribute in strengthening economy of the province upto some extend, its peoples’ sense of deprivation will be removed considerably and will thus be able to march ahead on road to progress and prosperity side by side with other developed parts of the country. As far as MMA government is concerned, we have voiced for our this genuine right at every fora during our past 9 months of entering the arena of government. Responsible people right from President and Prime Minister to Federal Finance and Power Ministers were approached. NWFP Assembly has diverted attention of the centre towards this important and crucial issue through passing a joint resolution unanimously as well as all MPAs from treasury and opposition benches staged a joint walk out from the Assembly to record their immense feelings. We soon after presenting the provincial budget, summoned the all provincial finance ministers meeting at Peshawar to discuss the issue wherein a working group has been constituted to contact all provincial finance ministers and authorities and muster their support for using their offices to let NWFP get its due rights. I myself spared no efforts to raise the matter at every forum to enable our province get its just and constitutional rights. I wrote articles, columns for media and compelled other columnists and journalists to play role for such a great cause. But unfortunately centre has not budged yet owing to its ground-less intransigence despite all our efforts and endeavours. August 31, 2003, could be termed memorable day in Frontier’s history in the way that MNAs and Senators belonging to NWFP as well as parliamentary party leaders of NWFP Assembly irrespective of their political affiliations assembled at single platform at Peshawar to discuss hydle net profit issue and other problems faced by this province on invitation of MMA government. It is indeed a matter of great honour and satisfaction that my this invitation was not only whole heartedly accepted by majority of the parliament members but MPs, heads and central and provincial leaders of various political parties personally attended this grand meeting irrespective of their political differences with the province government I will especially thank Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan, Central President ANP, Senator Farhatullah Babar (PPP-Parliamentarians), Abdul Akbar Khan (PPPP), Bashir Ahmad Bilour (ANP), Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat (PML-N) and Mian Nisar Gul (Tehrik-e-Insaf) who prioritized to attend this meeting despite their pressing engagements. This has not only encouraged provincial government to go ahead for the due rights but a joint declaration was also adopted in this regard.

The centre has no other option now but to give us our due rights and immediately release Rs. 209 billions out standing arrears of hydle net profit to enable NWFP somehow stand on its own footings. Immediate commencement of NFC award meeting was also need of hour to discuss our due rights and other financial problem. Centre has to discharge its constitutional obligations in letter and spirit now to give people of all provinces a realization that rights were duly given to them.

Sirajul Haq
Senior Minister, NWFP

Discuss at PT Forum