KARACHI - The Sindh government has expressed annoyance over the federal government’s arbitrarily reducing the province’s share of the gas development surcharge (GDS).

Authorities at the helm in Sindh have, through official letters, raised the issue with the federal government. But these requests have drawn a blank so far. The issue of GDS is likely to be raised in the Sindh Assembly on Monday (today) during the question-hour session pertaining to the Finance Department.
Sources in the Finance Department confirmed that the share of the province in GDS had been reduced arbitrarily by the federal government. According to figures of the GDS receipts, the Sindh province received Rs15.620 billion in FY 2005-06, Rs24.012 billion in FY 2006-07 and Rs14.862 billion in FY 2007-08. “This fluctuation of reduction of the GDS share of the province continued in the FY 2008-09, when it was reduced to Rs11.328 billion,” the sources said.
Similarly, the arbitrary reduction of Sindh’s share in GDS also continued during the present government of the PPP.
The official data showed that Sindh had received Rs19.522 billion on this account, which further had been reduced to Rs13.718 billion in the current financial year, 2011-12. The Finance Department has confirmed that the federal government, while finalising estimates for the GDS, did not consult it. The gas development surcharge is the price differential between natural gas being provided to the consumers and the prescribed price, a sum of wellhead price (cost of gas), transmission and distribution expenses (including depreciation on assets) of the utility companies and their return on assets.
Internet no substitute for book reading: Reading is a habit of creativity because the knowledge and information acquired through reading is long lasting, Member Managing Committee of Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT) Shajar Ali Hashmi said while inaugurating two-day Book Fair organised by AIT.
He said that it was true that the information technology had provided updated knowledge on all subjects through internet but it could not be the substitute for the knowledge acquired by the constant reading. He asked for the promotion of the reading habit among the students that would enhance their knowledge on different subjects. The Book Fair was attended by the large number of students, faculty members and guests from different walks of life.
Meanwhile, Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology ZA Nizami said that women need to get contemporary education in addition to the religious knowledge for the development of nation and country. While addressing the Nashrah Foundation award distribution ceremony he announced to provide modern technology to the lab of Aiwan-e-Durrani.
On the occasion he distributed the awards.