Power project closure incurred Rs33b loss
The National Assembly was informed on Friday that the closure of the 969-megawatt Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) has led to a revenue loss of Rs33 billion due to halted electricity production.
The assembly session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah on Friday, also saw a heated debate during the Question Hour when PPP lawmaker Sharmila Faruqui raised concerns over the health risks posed by unsafe skin-whitening creams.
According to official details, the plant was shut on May 1, 2024, due to the collapse of two headrace tunnels. The estimated repair cost is Rs21.7 billion, and an inquiry committee has been formed to determine responsibility.
A consulting firm has also been hired to investigate the incident. Following discussions, the National Assembly session was adjourned indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the government has backed off from taking immediate action against substandard and unregistered skin-whitening creams that have been linked to cancer, citing administrative constraints.
She warned that such products were causing skin cancer. Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath confirmed that some low-quality whitening creams were indeed leading to serious skin diseases, including cancer.
However, the minister admitted that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) lacked a mechanism to regulate such products. He further revealed that the establishment of a cosmetics authority under the Ministry of Science and Technology had been initiated but has now been put on hold due to staff downsizing.
Meanwhile, in response to a call-attention notice regarding the excessive tax burden on salaried individuals, Parliamentary Secretary Bilal Azhar Kayani said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly acknowledged the issue.
However, due to the country's fragile economic situation, immediate relief was not possible. "We hope to reach a position soon where relief can be provided," Kayani added, without specifying a timeframe.
The discussion was initiated in the National Assembly through a Calling Attention Notice raised by Sharmila Faruqui Hashaam and Asiya Naz Tanoli, drawing the Minister for Finance and Revenue's attention to the excessive tax burden on salaried individuals. The lawmakers highlighted that the current tax structure is creating severe financial hardships and causing grave concern among the public.