KP Assembly resolution opposes proposed amendment to IRSA Act

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has demanded the strict implementation of the water distribution agreement and called for no amendments to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act of 1992.

This demand came after the provincial assembly approved a resolution presented by a PTI MPA. The government member, while presenting the resolution, saidthat a water distribution agreement was established among the provinces in 1992, and if the federal government makes any amendments to the IRSA Act, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will never accept it.

The resolution called for the effective implementation of the water distribution agreement without altering the IRSA Act. The resolution was unanimously passed by the provincial assembly.

During the assembly session, opposition member Rehana Ismail raised a question during the question hour regarding the number of PTDC hotels in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, their utilization, and the revenue generated from them.

The question was referred to the Standing Committee on Tourism for further investigation due to the support of provincial ministers. Many questions concerning the Planning and Development and Home Departments were postponed until the next session due to the absence of several provincial ministers and advisors.

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Additionally, the provincial livestock minister presented the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Livestock Breeding Services Bill 2024, which was approved by the assembly.

In another development, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has introduced an amendment bill in the provincial assembly concerning the salaries, allowances, and benefits of provincial ministers and advisers.

During the assembly session chaired by Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi on Tuesday, the provincial law minister presented the amendment bill. According to the proposed amendments, provincial ministers, advisors, and special assistants will receive a one-time payment of 1 million rupees for the furnishing and decoration of their residences. This amount can also be used to purchase air conditioners and refrigerators.

The new amendment bill stipulates that in the absence of government housing, members of the provincial cabinet will receive 200,000 rupees per month for rent. Additionally, a one-time amount of 1 million rupees will be provided for the furnishing and decoration of rented houses.

According to the bill presented in the provincial assembly, any cabinet member who uses their own home for accommodation can also claim a rent of 200,000 rupees. All items purchased at government expense will need to be returned after their tenure ends.

During the discussion, PPP member Ahmed Khan Kundi and opposition leader Dr Ibad Khan questioned how PTI members would respond to their supporters, noting that people voted for their release of Imran Khan, but instead of working towards that, they were focused on increasing their own privileges.

They called for the bill to be withdrawn. The opposition leader also announced his intention to return all of his government benefits.

In response, the provincial law minister said that there were no official residences available for cabinet members in the province, noting that initially, only seven official houses were available for them. He added that a government colony for ministers is being constructed in Punjab and that they had only increased the privileges of ministers by a few hundred thousand rupees.