ISLAMABAD, June 18: The NWFP Governor Commander (retired) Khalilur Rehman and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday discussed in detail the progress on the National Finance Commission (NFC). The governor called on Mr Aziz at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and briefed him on the current situation in the province as well as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The prime minister assured the governor that the NFC award would be finalized in the best interest of all stakeholders. He also complimented the governor for his efforts in increasing the pace of development work in Fata.

Mr Aziz appreciated the role played by the armed forces in maintaining security and augmenting civil administration in carrying out development work in Waziristan Agency.

He said the government had allocated a substantial amount under the Khushal Pakistan Programme to increase the quality of lives and improve infrastructure and accelerate the pace of development in the country with special emphasis on social-sector development.

The NWFP governor congratulated the prime minister on the passage of a people-friendly budget in which a record amount had been allocated under the public sector development programme.

He informed the prime minister that there was now a realization among the people of Fata that the federal government was serious in resolving the problems facing them as it had not only allocated huge amounts for development work but also accelerated the pace of development in Fata. Meanwhile, the former caretaker prime minister, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Friday and discussed with him the prevailing situation.

According to a press release, Mr Jatoi appreciated the economic policies of the government and congratulated the prime minister for presenting a people-friendly and growth-oriented budget. He also apprised the prime minister of the problems of his area.

The prime minister assured Mr Jatoi that his government was committed to increasing the living standard of people. “The economy is now stable and we have succeeded in creating a fiscal space allowing us to allocate a record amount for public sector development,” Mr Aziz said.

He said the government wanted to work closely with the opposition on issues of national importance. “We should move above individual positions to address national issues through discussions and dialogue,” he added.