The session began at 10:20 am with Speaker Nisar Khuhro in chair. Tuesdays are private-member days in which the speaker has to take up the business on the agenda, whether it is a private bill, resolution or private motion tabled by legislators. However, all the business was deferred till the next private-member day.
During the question-and-answer session, Shah suggested the federal government pass another amendment in the National Assembly so the provinces can collect the royalty on oil, gas and natural resources themselves. After the 18th Amendment, the provinces and the centre have an equal share (50 per cent) in the royalty on natural resources. “But the royalty on gas and oil is being given to us without providing us with [any] information. We don’t know [even] how much our oil reserves produce,” the finance minister said. “We have written to the federal government many times, but they have not responded so far,” he added.
On a more optimistic note, Shah announced to the House that a new petroleum policy is being made and provincial governments have been asked for their input. He also said the Sindh government is going to establish its own department for natural resources. Regarding the current Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) award formula for the distribution of funds among districts during the fiscal year 2008-2009, the minister said that 40 per cent of funds are distributed for population welfare, 35 per cent on service infrastructure, 10 per cent on development needs, five per cent on area and 10 per cent on performance. “We allocated around 56.64 billion rupees for 23 districts of the province during the financial year 2008-2009,” he said.
In another question regarding Sindh government’s outstanding dues to the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), Shah said that Hesco’s claim of Rs14 billion up to June 30, 2009 is an exaggerated figure. “Sindh has not accepted the claim and has filed a suit in the Sindh High Court.”
Tribute
The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to pay tribute to Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai on his 267th death anniversary. The resolution was moved by Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo and was supported by other legislators as well.
Lady health workers
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MPA Nusrat Saher Abbasi moved an adjournment motion to discuss the issue of lady health workers who have not been paid their salaries during the last four months. She said that the government had launched the prime minister’s programme in 1994, which aimed at delivering basic health services at the door step via lady health workers.
But today, the government has stopped their salaries without reason, Abbasi said. She insisted that the issue must be debated in the House, but Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that since the matter was federal in nature, the Sindh government can only request the Centre to resolve the issue.
But Abbasi said, “These women have threatened self-immolation. When will this issue be resolved?” Later, the law minister assured the House that he would brief the House next Tuesday after raising the issue with Islamabad.
Journalists boycott
Journalists covering the Sindh Assembly session observed a token boycott of the proceedings for 10 minutes on the government’s failure to arrest the murderers of Geo News reporter Wali Khan Babar.
They demanded those behind the murder be exposed as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Power Shazia Marri and Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Sharjeel Inam Memon went to the press gallery and assured the journalists that the culprits would be arrested soon.
Soomro, quoting the CCPO Karachi, said that a few people have been arrested and a joint investigation team was interrogating them.
The session was later adjourned till Thursday.
Amount paid to Sindh on oil production
2002-2003: Rs2.6 billion
2003-2004: Rs2.37 billion
2004-2005: Rs3.702 billion
2005-2006: Rs4.08 billion
2006-2007: Rs4.17 billion
Royalty on gas production
2002-2003: Rs5.18 billion
2003-2004: Rs.7.9 billion
2004-2005: Rs10.48 billion
2005-2006: Rs13.26 billion
2006-2007: Rs15.7 billion
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2011.
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