Resolution seeks 3% of NFC award for tribal districts

Allegations of embezzlement in Covid fund lead to a verbal fight in assembly

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution asking the federal government, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan three percent of the National Finance Commission’s divisible pool for the development of tribal districts. The lawmakers from the tribal districts continued their protest in front of the Speaker’s dais to press for their demands. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, however, invited the MPAs from the tribal districts for negotiations on Tuesday after which they ended their sit-in.

At the outset of the session, the MPAs from the former Fata gathered in front of the Speaker’s dais and started their sit-in. On this occasion, Speaker Mushtaq Ghani informed the lawmakers that a meeting was scheduled between the CM and tribal lawmakers but since the CM was in Islamabad for budget consultations, the meeting will be held on Tuesday. After this assurance the MPAs from the former Fata ended their sit-in. MPA Mir Kalam Khan on this occasion tabled a resolution demanding of the federal government to give three percent of the NFC Award for the development of the tribal districts in addition to the allocation of Rs100 billion for the uplift of these backward and war-battered areas which was passed by the house.

During the session the alleged embezzlement of Corona funds proved to be a bone of contention between the opposition and treasury benches but the house also adopted an adjournment motion.

Opposition leader in the house Akram Durrani tabled an adjournment motion, saying that government was showing unnecessary high-handedness in the name of implementing Covid-19 related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He blamed that due to this economy was hit hard which was already in a very bad shape. Provincial Minister Shah Mehmood on this occasion tried to reply but JUI-F’s MPA Munawar Khan objected that no debate could be made till an adjournment motion is adopted by the house.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2021.