LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus-Pasha on Thursday said the provincial government has decided to transfer grants on the basis of Provincial Financial Commission Award (PFC) under section (3) 153 (a) of the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 for activating local governments.

On the instructions of the chief minister, an interim committee comprising public representatives, government officers and technical members had been formed, she added.

The minister was presiding over a meeting of interim committee regarding approval of interim Provincial Financial Commission Award for local governments.

Pasha said a technical group was set up for the constitution of interim PFC Award in consultation with the interim committee in which opinions of officers of finance department besides senior consultants of international level were included.

She told the meeting that technical committee in consultation with the respective departments had prepared its recommendations for interim finance commission under which funds will be distributed to local governments on the basis of their financial needs.

The formula of distribution of resources among the districts in education sector would be prepared on the basis of congestion of population, number of school going and out-of-school children and enrollment of girls for secondary education, she added.

Pasha said the funds would be given to health authorities according to the formula of population ratio of the persons below nine years of age and more than 65 years, 15 to 49 years old women and the rate of poverty as children, elderly persons and the women need more treatment.

Recommendations were also presented in the interim award regarding substantial increase in development and non-development funds of union councils, municipal committees, municipal corporations and district councils which were unanimously approved by the meeting, the minister said.

Pasha informed the committee members that the resources of south Punjab under the formula would increase substantially and aim of this step is provision of education, health and other basic needs in the region.

Senior consultant Sub-National Governance Programme Faisal Rasheed told the meeting that figures of 1998 census and MICS 2014 were used for preparing the recommendations for interim award. Pasha said the summary of recommendation would soon be sent to the chief minister for approval.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2016