ISLAMABAD:
The government on Monday informed a perturbed Senate that there was an increase in electricity tariff by 43 paisas per unit but at the same time the net impact on the consumers was ‘zero’ as the increase had been adjusted by reducing the surcharge.
“Net increase in electricity tariff is zero,” said Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, whose presence was hailed by senators.
The statement was perplexing for some in the Senate before Kamil Ali Agha from the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) took the floor. He accused the minister for giving incomplete information saying “the government has increased the tariff and has actually adjusted the increase by reducing fuel surcharge,” which he said government would have done anyway due to a large fall in oil prices in the international market from $108 to $81 per barrel.
Agha also said that the increase was made as per commitment made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the upcoming meeting in Dubai on October 29. However, Khawaja Asif focused more on “net increase in tariff”, which he claimed was zero for the consumers and said that the government was not in a position to pass on relief of reduction in the oil prices to consumers with immediate effect.
The issue of electricity tariff was raised by Senator Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail from the PML-Q, while the house was discussing the recent floods. During the discussion, a statement that the floods could have been averted had there been Kalabagh dam by M. Hamza from the ruling PML-N triggered a debate.
“I take strong exception of this generalised statement,” said Farhatullah Babar from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and added “by building the dam you might save Punjab and store water there, but it would dent the unity of the federation.”
Babar also referred to the resolutions passed by three provinces except Punjab, and said “the federation would have to pay a heavy price for building this dam.” The views were endorsed by members of ANP.
Earlier, Senator Farhatullah Babar introduced a bill that was intended to be made a law to provide for the powers, immunities and privileges of the parliament and members of the parliament with a view to enabling them to discharge their functions properly and effectively.
“No legislation has been made so far to define the powers, immunities and privileges of parliament and its committees,” said the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.
The bill was introduced after some debate with some suggesting prior consultation with other parliamentary parties. Later, a motion was adopted asking the chairman to either constitute a special committee or two committees to finetune the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2014.
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