October 15, 2002	Tuesday	Sha'aban 8, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: The National Finance Commission (NFC) is scheduled to meet in Lahore on Oct 25 to decide on the 6th NFC award.

The Minister for Finance, Shaukat Aziz, who would preside over the meeting told Dawn on Monday that it was incorrect to presume that the decision on the 6th NFC award was being delayed and that it will be left for the elected government to decide.

“It all depends, and if various issues, specially between Wapda and the NWFP are sorted out, the Lahore meeting could finalize the new award,” the minister said.

He said as far as the federal government was concerned, all necessary issues have been discussed and finalized to announce the new NFC award.

Earlier, the Centre had agreed to increase the revenue share of the provinces from the present 37.5 per cent to 44.6 per cent in the new NFC award. And in this behalf, certain benchmarks had been agreed upon between the Centre and the provinces to increase the revenue share of the provinces.