Aurangzeb says Centre to address KP concerns

PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday assured Adviser to Chief Minister on Finance Muzzamil Aslam that the federal government would address Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s concerns about the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

An official handout said the federal minister for finance met with the Adviser to Chief Minister on Finance Muzzamil Aslam at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar to discuss key economic issues.

During the meeting, the federal minister commended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on its efforts to implement the National Fiscal Pact and Agricultural Income Tax.

Muzzamil Aslam expressed concerns about the federal government’s decision to withhold funds allocated for the merged districts under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP). He said that the merged districts required immediate financial support to meet their expenses, which exceeded their allocated budget.

Muzzamil Aslam proposed that interim arrangements should be made through the NFC to support the merged districts. He also stressed the need for provinces to be taken into confidence on tax collection, pension and salary matters before the next budget.

Meanwhile, speaking to members of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry during a visit to the Chamber House, State Minister for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik said through proactive policies and initiatives, the incumbent coalition government had saved the country for default.