Lawmakers concerned over bill amendments
PHOTO: EXPRESS
Lawmakers have expressed reservations about the amendments proposed to the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill 2020 due to a vague procedure of surcharge to be imposed and utilisation of funds generated through it.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy (Power Division), which met with Chaudhry Salik Hussain in the chair on Monday, stressed that no new surcharge should be levied on the masses.
It recommended that if a surcharge had to be imposed, rationale should be presented to the committee and the public. “What is the fault of consumers on whom a surcharge is being levied,” questioned the committee chairman, adding that the NA body would not allow imposition of surcharges on electricity bills. Officials of the Power Division were asked about the timeline of amendments to the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill 2020.
“You may have a deadline from the outside (IMF) for Nepra’s amendment bill but we only have a deadline from the masses,” remarked MNA Shazia Marri. There was an exchange of hot words between Energy Minister Omar Ayub and Shazia Marri over the performance of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and other distribution companies.
Ayub highlighted that the Sindh government had not helped in removal of water from Hesco areas and alleged that funds were misappropriated in the province and not allocated for water clearance purpose. Marri replied that blaming Sindh would not fix Hesco. MNA Mir Khan Mohammad Jamali was of the view that injustice was being done with Balochistan. “Officers from other provinces are being recruited in Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) on the quota of Balochistan,” he alleged.
The ministry was asked to strictly adhere to the provincial quota requirement for minorities and disabled persons.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2020.
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