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PPP, MQM snub NFC Award objections

* Say nationalists trying to mislead people

Staff Report

KARACHI: Both the major ruling parties of Sindh, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, have rejected the objections raised by different Sindh-based political groups and personalities regarding the provincial government’s role on the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award issue.

Both the parties have also said that the federal government is not sincere in meeting the demands and expectations of the people of Sindh in this regard.

Different Sindh-based groups, including political parties, NGOs and personalities have started a campaign since the last couple of days on the NFC issue. They are criticising the provincial government for keeping a weak stance on the issue. Leaders of the Sindh Dost Rabita Council, including Barrister Zamir Ghumro, have even alleged that ruling parties have deviated from their stance, which they had made in 2003.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the parliamentary leaders of both parties in the Sindh Assembly, Pir Mazharul Haq and Syed Sardar Ahmed, said an unprecedented progress has been made on the NFC Award issue during the recent days, but the nationalists of Sindh were trying to mislead the people of the province.

PPP leader Pir Mazhar, who is also the senior minister for education, said after 19 years of political history all the stakeholders and parties have agreed to change the distribution formula from the one based solely on population. Besides, he added, after a long struggle the demand by Sindh to hand over GST on services to the provinces has also been accepted. No such progress was witnessed in the past, he said.

The minister claimed that an acceptable solution has also been found on the Octroi and Zila Tax, and the royalty on oil and gas. He said those criticising the provincial government were involved in compromising on the NFC issue in the past. He said the PPP government was also working on solutions of issues such as provincial autonomy, abolishment of concurrent list, etc.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM’s Syed Sardar Ahmed said that both the parties, the PPP and MQM, have kept the same stance on the distribution of water and NFC Award’s issues. He said people involved in criticising the government should instead support it on the NFC Award issue.

He said Sindh could get an amount of Rs 40 billion only through the transfer of the GST on services, while the benefits of the multiple criteria of the NFC Award would be a bonus.

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