KP share in NFC up after Fata merger: Saif

PESHAWAR: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, has stated that after the merger of tribal districts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award stands at 19.46 percent which the federal government is constitutionally obligated to acknowledge.

According to a handout, he urged the federal government to take immediate practical steps to ensure the development of the merged districts and protect them from further deprivation.

Barrister Saif stated that any attempt to hinder the development of the tribal districts would fail, as keeping these areas underdeveloped was tantamount to promoting insurgency.

He explained that before the merger, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s NFC share was 14.72 percent, which had now increased to 19.46 percent.

The adviser demanded the immediate release of KP’s rightful dues, including net hydel profit, developmental funds for merged districts, NFC Award allocations, and other outstanding payments, to allow the province to progress according to its resources.

Barrister Saif warned that if the province was denied its legitimate rights, strong resistance would be offered at both political and legal levels.

He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was not asking for charity but demanding its constitutional rights, and any violation of these rights would not be tolerated.

“The province will raise its voice on every platform and secure its due share at any cost. If the federal government continues its unjust policies, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not remain silent,” added the adviser to the chief minister.