PESHAWAR, Feb 7: The NWFP’s Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) would meet after Eid to review the performance of the fiscal management plan and resource distribution formula laid down under the interim PFC award, according to official sources.
The current PFC award which had been given for an interim period of one year starting from July 1, 2002, would lapse on June 30, 2003.
Though the date for the meeting has not yet been finalized, preparations are on to arrange the PFC’s meeting — first after the award became operational, during the next fortnight, according to an official source.
The commission, involving a total of six members, would review the impact of the formula laid down to distribute resources among the district governments and the provincial government, the quantum of total funds put at the disposal of the district governments, funds provided to them to meet their current and recurring expenditure requirements and development needs.
Besides, the impact of the criteria and guidelines laid down for selecting development projects and priorities for focussing the development process in accordance with the national policies would also be reviewed.
The review process, said the sources, was aimed at looking into the interim award’s performance, rectifying the situation where ever required to give new award for the distribution of resources among the district governments and transfer of resources from the provincial government to the newly established district based administrative entities.
The six-member PFC is headed by the provincial finance minister and among its members are secretary finance department, NWFP, two economists from the private sector and two representatives of the district governments including Hamayun Saifullah, Nazim of Lakki Marwat district and Rafi-ul-Mulk, Naib Nazim of district Swat.
Replacement of Mr Mulk on the PFC has become imminent following his demise last year.
In addition to that, the PFC may also undergo some more changes if the MMA-led government decides so.
“The government may bring new faces in place of those who represented the district governments at the PFC in the past,” said the sources.