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| 04 April 2004 | Sunday | 13 Safar 1425 |
PM wants award before budget: NFC process moving smoothly - Shaukat
ISLAMABAD, April 3: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has asked Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to finalize the 6th National Finance Commission award before the announcement of the federal budget for the next financial year.
Talking to Mr Aziz, who called on him at the prime minister's secretariat here on Saturday, Mr Jamali said the NFC award should be finalized with a view to providing adequate financial resources to the provincial and federal governments.
According to an official handout issued here on Saturday, the prime minister said these resources were essential for improving the effectiveness of governance, the infrastructure, the standard of life of the common man and financing of various other development initiatives.
Mr Jamali said it was the government's desire to evolve an equitable NFC award providing adequate resources to both the federal and provincial governments.
"We want to take the provinces along, and the award should have consensus of all the provinces," the prime minister said.
Earlier, the finance minister briefed Mr Jamali on the recently-concluded meeting of the 6th NFC award held in Quetta.
He informed the prime minister about efforts being made to develop a consensus on the award so that it could be incorporated into the next budget.
He was of the view that due to buoyancy in revenue, the amounts available in the award would be able to meet the revenue and development requirements of the provinces as well as the federation.
Mr Aziz also briefed the premier on the overall macro-economic situation. Progress on development projects and other economic issues also came up for discussion during the meeting.
APP adds: Mr Aziz told a private TV channel that matters relating to NFC award would be settled to the satisfaction of all parties before the next fiscal budget.
"There is no difficulty whatsoever in this connection, and the process is moving ahead smoothly," the minister said.
He added: "Every province keeps its interests uppermost and it is but natural."
Replying to a question, he said the issue of net hydel profit was not part of the NFC. It was requested by the government of NWFP that some advancement be made on it.
"So it was decided that the issue be settled through a binding arbitration mechanism."
He said procedural formalities had been started in this connection. He hoped that a good decision would be made once the process got under way.
About the government's decision to allow import of reconditioned cars, the minister said the stake-holders were being consulted in this behalf and a formal meeting was expected next week.
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