PESHAWAR: The provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has urged the federal government to impose the federal excise duty on crude oil, demanding it to pay arrears and mark-up in the head of net hydel profit to the province.
The demand was made in joint resolutions tabled by the treasury and opposition benches in the session, chaired by Speaker Asad Qaisar. Qaumi Watan Party’s parliamentary leader Sikandar Hayat Sherpao moved the resolution, asking the petroleum and natural resources ministry to notify the federal excise duty on crude oil immediately.
Through another resolution, the assembly asked the centre to ensure maximum increase in the province’s share in Public Sector Development Programme. It also demanded that under Article 158 of the Constitution, the natural gas produced in the province be provided on the discretion of the provincial government, so it could be utilised it according to its priorities, which would put the province on the track of progress and development.
The resolution said instead of handing over of 100mcf gas to Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB), it should be handed over to the provincial government to install thermal power plant and generate 800mw electricity and thus, ridding the province of power loadshedding.
The assembly also said provision of 14.82 per cent of the imported LNG would accelerate the pace of development in the province.