Punjab to suggest formula for distribution of funds: CCI meeting on September 6

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led Punjab government will suggest the federal government to devise a formula regarding distribution of funds among the provinces in proportion to the flood losses each province have suffered, in the meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) being held at Islamabad on Monday (tomorrow).
Sources told Business Recorder that the Punjab government has already completed its homework for the CCI meeting and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had already supported the stance of the PML-N-led Punjab government. "The PPP led federal government had already sent cheque of Rs 50 million each to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan governments for extending immediate relief to flood affected people but not a single penny has so far been provided to the Punjab government despite repeated requests," a leader of the PML-N claimed.
It may be noted that the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had written a letter to Gilani for convening a meeting of the CCI to share with the federating units details of the donations received and a formula be devised to distribute funds among the provinces in proportion to the flood losses each province have suffered.
Sources claimed that Monday's meeting is expected to remove misunderstandings among the federal, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments regarding funds distribution and it is expected that a viable formula will be devised. President Zardari had already asked quarters concerned that all details regarding the inflow of foreign aid for flood victims, its utilisation and distribution should be placed on the website to ensure transparency.
PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz said that his party's Chief Nawaz Sharif himself approached Prime Minister Gilani and proposed a 'transparent commission' comprising 'credible people' to generate funds for rehabilitation of flood victims, however, this proposal was not implemented despite agreement. He said the government would have to follow the proposal of the PML-N chief regarding formation of a commission, as only through this transparency could be ensured.
He said it is time for taking immediate practical steps for helping out the flood-affected people. He said floods 2010 is a calamity which has not stopped yet, and a number of people are still stranded. "These are testing times for the whole nation that demand national unity," he said.