PESHAWAR, June 7: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said on Tuesday that the provincial government was in a difficult situation where preparing the next budget was concerned due to the delay in the announcement of the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. Talking to newsmen here after inaugurating the new block at the civil secretariat, Mr Durrani said that the federal government should announce the NFC award before the annual budget.

He said that all the four provinces had asked the federal government to announce the award before the budget, but the centre could not finalize the award.

“The president and prime minister know better about the financial problems of the provinces,” the chief minister said.

He was optimistic that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would fulfil his commitment regarding provision of an additional Rs2 billion to the Frontier province on account of net profit on hydel-power generation.

On being asked about the on-going dispute between the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government and Governor Khalilur Rehman over the appointment of an advocate general in the province, he said that the provincial law minister had already registered his protest on the issue.

“I am sure that Governor Khalilur Rehman will review his decision regarding the appointment of an advocate general in the province,” Mr Durrani said.

He said that under the constitution the governor could not appoint an advocate general in the province.