Nov 11 , 2015
News
Senators ask govt to finalise next NFC award soon
Senator Bizenjo says resources to be shared on basis of population areas, backwardness
APPISLAMABAD – Lawmakers from treasury and opposition benches in the Senate on Thursday urged the government to convene meeting to finalise the next National Finance Commission (NFC) award at the earliest.
On a motion to discuss the report of first biannualmonitoring on the implementation of the NFC award (July-December 2014) laid before the House, Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo said that it was agreed in the award that resources would be shared on the basis of population areas and backwardness.
He underlined the need for holding the NFC award meeting so that federating units could be given their due share from the national pool, saying that not convening the meeting for the next NFC award was tantamount of depriving the provinces of their rights.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said that the NFC meeting should becalled for preserving, protecting and promoting the rights of the provinces. He was of the view that calling the meeting would strengthen all the federating units. Senator Ilyas Bilour said it seemed that delaying tactics were being used in convening the NFC session.
– Sherry points out ‘missing’province–
Senator Sherry Rehman said that it was unfortunate that a province had not nominated members for the NFC award so far. Senator Javed Abbas said that the volume of tax collection had increased by 14 per cent due to measures taken by the government. He expressed the hope that all the provinces would get their due share in the next NFC award.
Senator Saleem Mandviwal said that the NFC meeting had not been called despite several reminders to the Ministry of Finance. Senator Sirajul Haq said that the federal government had extended the period of NFC award for one year without consulting the provinces.
Senator Usman Kakar called for summoning meetings of both the NFC and the Council of Common Interest (CCI) to remove reservations of the provinces. He said there should be a thorough debate in the National Assembly and Senate on the measures and decision being taken in finalising the NFC award.
Khaleda Perveen said that the provinces should set-up their own finance commissions and less developed provinces should be focused in the NFC award. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani also admitted a motion to discuss over 500 candidates backed by the banned outfits had made their way into the Punjab Local Government system.The chairman allocated a two-hour time to discuss the issue on Friday.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk