The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unanimously adopted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance (Amendment) Bill 2010 to exempt hotels in Kaghan Valley tax for a period of two years. The provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Arshad Abdullah moved the amendment in the North-West Frontier province (NWFP), Finance Ordinance, 2002 to exempt the hotel industry of the tourists’ valley.
The act will come into force at once. The amendment said that hotels in Kaghan Valley of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shall be exempted from tax for a period starting from Ist July, 2010 to 30th June, 2012. The second Iqra National University Bill, 2010 was referred to a four-member select committee comprising of Abdul Akbar Khan, Israrullah Khan Gandapore, Sikandar Irfan and Dr Iqbal Din Fana.
The bill was tabled few days back in the provincial assembly. The quorum of the committee will be three members. The committee has been directed to complete its report within a period of 15 days and present in the house. Meanwhile, the identical adjournment motions of the Deputy Speaker, Khushdil Khan advocate and Mufti Said Janan of the JUI-F for holding debate on power load shedding and low voltage was admitted for discussion.
Taking the floor of the house, the Deputy Speaker, Khushdil Khan advocate said that in the whole country in general and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular, massive load shedding had brought the activities of life into standstill. He said that the load shedding is triggering protest creating problems. He said that his constituency some time witnessed long power breakdowns for three days that badly affected the life. He said that electricity is important utility and no one can through life without it.
Mufti Said Janan, a JUI-F legislator from Hangu said that the hours long power load shedding was reported in Hangu and Tall areas. He said that the hours long load shedding is not only condemnable but also requires reformation. He demanded of the provincial government to issue directives to the officials of the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) for bringing hours long load shedding and problem of low voltage to an end.
In response to the adjournment motion, Senior Minister Rahim Dad Khan said that power load shedding has become an important problem, saying the generation has declined as compared to demand. He said that some elements are also involved in the putting hooks on the main supply lines that are affecting good consumers.
The Speaker, Kiramatullah Khan, who was presiding the proceeding under Rule No 73 of the house proceedings, put the matter to vote. The house unanimously admitted it for detailed discussion. Similarly, in response to a call attention notice of the Mohammad Ali Khan of PPP-Sherpao for the construction of Peshawar-Charsadda Road, the Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Arshad Abdullah assured the house that work on the improvement of the road would be started during current financial year.
In his call attention notice, the legislator from tehsil Shabqadar, district Charsadda said that the section of Khazana-Peshawar is in dilapidated conditions, saying the distance of 15 minutes takes more than one hour. The Speaker Kiramatullah Khan termed the concern of the legislator genuine and said that the shoulders of the roads affected by the floods and cuts should be repaired as soon as possible to give respite to the transport passing through the road. The chair later adjourned the proceedings of the house till Tuesday 10:00 am. – Brecorder
