PM Imran Khan with chief ministers of all four provinces.
The CCI held its much-awaited 41st meeting on Monday to discuss a 16-point agenda. Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the meeting which was attended by all provincial chief ministers. The population census notification was also among the agenda items but was deferred after Sindh voiced reservations.
According to the results of the census, held between March and May 2017 after a delay of nine years, the population of Sindh has turned out to be 47million. However, the figures were contested both by the PPP, the ruling party in Sindh with its political base mostly in the rural areas as well as the MQM, a government ally with a huge vote-bank in urban Sindh.
The CCI, however, approved amendments in the Exploration and Production Policy and OGRA Ordinance 2002 while also approving the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Structural Benchmark and Performance Criteria as per the terms of the IMF agreement. The meeting participants also decided that the management of the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI) would be entrusted to the federation.
The council approved formation of a high-level committee for distribution of net hydel profit (NHP). The committee, comprising water experts, will submit recommendations within a month. Talking to media after the CCI meeting, Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the prime minister has laid stress on all four units of the federation to safeguard interests of the people. She said the CCI has decided to form a high-level committee on the distribution of NHP.
The Rs12 billion NHP will be adjusted by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), she added. Firdous said the attorney general’s recommendations regarding the distribution of water resources of the country were presented at the CCI meeting.
“The prime minister stressed on the need for fair distribution of water resources and an assurance to the people of all the provinces that such a distribution is equitable. “The meeting decided that legal and technical experts would be asked to present recommendations in this regard. The committee will submit the recommendations to the CCI in a month’s time,” she added.
The SAPM said the CCI unanimously decided to install telemetry system at reservoirs for ensuring equitable distribution of water among the provinces. “The meeting resolved to ensure installation of a telemetry system to determine accurate levels and supply of water to provinces. The system is aimed at bringing a permanent end to the water dispute among the provinces,” she said. It also decided to constitute a committee comprising water experts to formulate its recommendations in that regard and submit the same within a month.
Dr Firdous said the CCI took most of the decisions on pressing issues with consensus.
The provincial representatives used their democratic right and gave input on all the issues, she said. All the participants of CCI meeting, she said, vowed to serve the people and provide them basic amenities. “The year 2020 would prove to be the year of economic growth and complete eradication of polio from the country,” she said.
The council approved the petroleum exploration policy and reviewed Sindh’s concerns about the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG). It also postponed Chashma Right Bank Canal power project. The fixation of royalty for the LPG would be made on the basis of its sale/purchase price in consultation with the provinces. The meeting also decided to take the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) into confidence in determining the tariff before starting any energy project. The CCI decided to appoint skilled persons as the chief executive of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
The meeting viewed that a uniform syllabus and uniform system of education, evolved in consultation with the provinces, should be implemented across the country. The provinces were advised to formulate a policy regarding the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF). All the provinces, except Sindh, agreed that the WWF should be maintained by the federation. A committee was constituted to evolve a consensus in that regard. Dr Firdous said Pakistan would open an investment corridor regarding alternate energy and the prime minister asked the provinces to submit their recommendations in that regard.
“The prime minister has directed the authorities to prepare PC-I for Chashma Right Bank Canal in the next four weeks.”
The CCI decided to appoint the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chairman and board members in consultation with the provinces. It was also decided to amend the law to pave way for appointment of professional chief executive for Wapda. The council also greenlighted amendments in the petroleum exploration and production policy.
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