ISLAMABAD: The Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) revised bill has been passed by the Senate on Thursday which would pave way for the recovery of Rs12 billion arrears from CNG stations under an agreed settlement.
However, it faced stiff opposition from PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz who alleged it of being a dubious deal which provided benefits to a senator, reported Dawn.
He said the CNG station owners accumulated Rs62 billion from consumers and were now only paying off Rs12 billion to the government and said the bill should be forwarded to a committee for probing.
But Minister of State for Finance Rana Mohammad Afzal stated several petitions had been filed in the courts by CNG station owners who had granted stays against GIDC.
He added that as per a settlement with CNG station owners, they had accepted to pay Rs12 billion on top of the already Rs19 billion arrears paid.
Mr Afzal stated he didn’t know of any corruption in this regard and if the PTI senator thought so there was something dubious, the matter could be referred to National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
And the bill was passed by the Senate with 35 votes for and 16 votes against it. The GIDC bill passing was opposed by the lawmakers of PTI, MQM, PKMAP and Jamaat-i-Islami.
However, PPP senators voted in favour of the bill.
And an official said the GIDC Bill had 2018 had been passed on condition that CNG station owners would be given an Rs7 billion waiver if they deposited Rs12 billion in two instalments within three months after its passing.
