Summary KP Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam says the province did not unconditionally agree to transfer Rs1.1 trillion to the federal government at the NEC meeting.
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam said on Monday that the provincial government did not give unconditional approval to transfer Rs1.1 trillion to the federal government during the recent National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Aslam clarified that the province's position was conditional and linked to a proposed meeting with the founding chairman of his party. He said reports suggesting that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had fully agreed to the financial arrangement did not reflect the province's stated position.
According to Aslam, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also assured participants during the NEC meeting that matters related to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award would be addressed.
He reiterated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would continue to safeguard its constitutional and financial rights and would not compromise on issues affecting the province's interests.
The provincial finance adviser also highlighted the constitutional role of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), noting that the forum is required to meet every three months. However, he said such meetings have not been held regularly.
Aslam stressed that Pakistan's current political and economic situation requires timely CCI meetings to address important financial and administrative issues between the federation and the provinces through constitutional mechanisms.
He urged the national leadership to ensure that future CCI meetings are convened on schedule, saying regular dialogue through the constitutional forum would help strengthen cooperation between the federal and provincial governments.
The adviser added that the most recent CCI meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, but emphasised that it remains the responsibility of the federal government to ensure the council meets regularly in accordance with constitutional requirements.
The remarks come amid ongoing discussions over federal-provincial financial arrangements and resource distribution, with the NFC Award and intergovernmental coordination remaining key issues in Pakistan's fiscal policy debate.
