ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Commerce, Khurram Dastagir Khan has rejected the announcement of giving the possible National Finance Commission (NFC) award in the next fiscal year in senate. He has said that the government is not bound constitutionally to give NFC awards to provinces.
PP senator Sassui Palijo called attention notice about delay in the announcement of 8th NFC award. Khurram Dastagir responded to her on behalf of Ishaq Dar that the constitution ordered to form different steps of NFC award that should not be more than five years however, it was not bound to give award to the center.
Khurram Dastagir said that new NFC award would not be applicable for the year 2015-16. At this moment, the chairman senate Raza Rabbani said, “Why are you compelling me to read the constitution and order?” Khurram said that the government had completed its work by forming NFC award on July 1st, 2014.
He added that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif had approved the award on 24th of April whereas a session of commission had already been held in that regard. He further said that 4 working groups had been formed for NFC award and all of them had been directed to submit their recommendations.