KARACHI, July 1: Sindh finance minister Syed Sardar Ahmed has said that no decision has been taken yet about any new strategy to be adopted at the next meeting of the National Finance Commission.
He said after the distribution of port folios to the ministers, the cabinet would deliberate on options and alternatives available without compromising on the principled stand of the Sindh government pertaining to multiple criteria for the NFC award.
Syed Sardar Ahmed, who is senior minister in the cabinet, was talking to a group of journalists on Thursday after inaugurating a young leaders conference in a local hotel.
In reply to a question, he said Sindh would stick to its principled stand of multiple criteria for the next NFC award against a single criteria based on population only.
There could be variations about what should be the formula of collection and revenue generation whose details and modalities could be worked out, he said, adding he would seek an approval of the cabinet in this regard.
To another question, the minister said he did not see any problems even after nomination of Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz as the next Prime Minister as he had remained helpful to all provinces in reaching a consensus on the award as it could only be given after consensus among all four provinces.
The minister denied that there was any delay in the announcement of port folios to ministers because of differences, saying it was due to preoccupation of the chief minister in Islamabad owing to his official engagements. He, however, hoped that port folios would be announced by Friday.
He said there was no change in the MQM and PML stance on the formula for sharing of power and there was no difference of opinion among coalition partners. To yet another question, the minister said that the government seeks strengthening of private sector which would generate employment. The government would be prepared to provide necessary guidance in executing youth training programmes.
