20 June 2004	Sunday	01 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

PESHAWAR, June 19: The NWFP government will keep pressing for its outstanding dues against Wapda and will also keep on calling for an 11 per cent annual increase in the net hydel profit , guaranteed by the A.G.N. Kazi formula, says the provincial finance minister, Sirajul Haq.

He was speaking at post-budget press conference at the Civil Secretariat building here on Saturday.

Appreciating different political parties for supporting the NWFP government's efforts to take up provincial rights issue with the federal government, he said that the NWFP government would never abandon the rights of the province and would continue its struggle to achieve its financial rights.

A reconciliatory commission comprising equal members from the NWFP and Wapda had been constituted to decide about backlog of dues owed by Wapda, he added.

"We are looking for an impartial, but a professional person, who should head this commission as its chairman (capable of) deciding on merit. We will not impose our will on the centre. We want justice. It is the duty of the federal government to look into (ways and means to resolve) it", he said.

He said the federal government had increased the quantum of net hydel profit from Rs6 billion to Rs8 billion, which would help the NWFP government in launching some more development schemes in undeveloped areas. He expressed the hope that the federal government would pay the NWFP Rs10 billion projected in the new budget.

The NWFP finance minister said the World Bank's Pakistan mission was happy over the provincial government's austerity measures and economic targets set by it in the new budget. He said it was "very difficult" for them to end interest-based businesses with a single stroke of pen. "We are gradually heading towards (the achievement of) our goal," Mr Haq said.

Stressing the need for the early constitution of the National Finance Commission award in the light of demands made by the four federating units, adding that poverty and backwardness should be considered a part of the funds distribution formula.

Dr Haq said both the NWFP and Balochistan needed special allocation of funds as they were faced with acute poverty and backwardness, adding that despite the need to bring the two provinces on a par with other provinces, the federal government was not paying any heed to their demands.

He said: "We are not opposed to anybody. All the four provinces agree that subventions should be made on an equal basis between the federating units and the Centre. The constitution of a new award is also a constitutional obligation and the federal government must fulfil it." Only fairplay guaranteed the country's integrity besides ensuring prosperity for the people, he added.

Describing budget as being balanced, the minister denied the impression about the NWFP chief minister's interference in the budget-making process. The chief minister, he said, had a discretionary fund amounting to over Rs96 million, but he could order incorporation of fresh schemes in the ADP.

He said a development package of Rs2 billion had been allocated for the development schemes in Peshawar, including funds for the establishment of two universities, extension and repair of roads and construction of some fly-overs. The development work in the province had been hampered by a protracted contractors' strike, he added.

In the new budget, the government had mainly focused on promotion of primary education, creation of direct and indirect jobs by launching various projects, development of irrigation channels, agriculture and forest ranges across the province, he concluded.