K-P eyes NEPRA-style power authority
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Adviser to Chief Minister on Finance, Muzammil Aslam, said during the budget session of the provincial assembly that real electricity relief for the province will only be possible if it generates its own electricity and supplies it directly to the public.
He announced that the provincial government plans to establish its own regulatory authority, similar to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), to set power tariffs independently.
Responding to lawmakers' queries during the ongoing budget debate, Aslam revealed several key initiatives. Among them is a Rs13 billion solar power project for the merged tribal districts. For the first time, oil and gas-producing districts will receive 15 per cent royalty.
He emphasized that the budget discussion was a productive experience and appreciated the active participation of assembly members, noting that he attentively listened to all questions for three hours without interruption.
Reflecting on Pakistan's economic trajectory, Aslam criticized the performance of mainstream political parties, stating, "Pakistan has been around for 75 years, with just two parties in power for 72 of those. Members have raised issues like poverty, lack of hospitals, and schools — but these same parties were responsible for governance for decades."
He also claimed extensive expertise in national budgets, saying, "I've been analyzing federal budgets for 22 years. No budget in the world is based entirely on facts — they're all built on projections."
He expressed concern that the federal government allocated only Rs550 million for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa out of a national development budget of Rs1 trillion.
Aslam criticized the PPP for not pushing for the 8th and 9th NFC Awards after the 7th, and defended PTI leader Barrister Saif, saying, "Questions were raised in the House about Barrister Saif, but I want to clarify that he is a trusted ally of PTI."
Speaking on counter-terrorism funding, he stated that the 1 per cent share from the federal government is not a favor, but a right earned through the sacrifices of the province.
Aslam added that K-P receives Rs3 billion monthly from the federal government under the net hydel profit formula. Projects under the Provincial Energy Development Organization (PEDO) are expected to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity.
"The only sustainable way to provide relief in electricity costs is for the province to produce its own power and supply it directly to its people," he reiterated.
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