A swift cut: Discretionary quota of CM, finance minister to be slashed

Decision to be implemented in next financial year

PESHAWAR: The K-P Provincial Finance Commission has decided to drastically decrease the discretionary quota of the chief minister and finance minister, stated a handout issued on Monday.

The development funds at the discretion of these top officials would be reduced massively, squeezing the quota of the CM from 10% to 2% and the finance minister’s from 5% to 1%.

The decision was taken at a meeting during which a consensus was formed among the participants who agreed on implementation in the next financial year after approval from the chief minister.

The meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar. The finance minister also approved another consensus recommendation of the commission to distribute district development funds among the local governments in the current year.

The funds will be dispersed according to the old formula of the PFC. Under the old PFC formula, 60% funds would be allocated on the basis of population, 20% on underdevelopment and 20% on infrastructure. The districts would receive Rs30,274 million of which Rs13,100 million would go to village and neighbourhood councils. Around Rs8,550 million each would be transferred to tehsil and districts to spend on development schemes through the respective councils.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2016.