Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that unanimous approval of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award has sorely disappointed the ill-wishers of the country and dispelled the impression that Pakistan is a failed state. He expressed these views while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.
Punjab Finance Minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, Senator Parvaiz Rasheed, Secretary Finance and Secretary Information and Culture were also present on the occasion. He said that the nation has had a good news after a long time and this Award is only a beginning. "Unanimous approval of the Award has proved that political leadership of the country is fully capable to solve the issues with wisdom and mutual understanding.
The additional resources made available due to NFC Award would be utilised on the provision of education, health, justice and other facilities to the masses as well as removing deprivations of the people of Southern Punjab," he added. According to him, NFC Award has on the one hand thwarted the designs of the evil elements, which were trying to tarnish the image of Pakistan and wanted it to be declared as a failed state.
On the other hand proved that solution to the problems of the state lies only in democratic system. If democracy is allowed to flourish, Pakistan's political leadership is fully capable of resolving long-standing complex issues. The 17th NFC Award is the fruit of democracy and has strengthened democratic system in the country. Moreover, the NFC award has also put to rest the reservations and misgivings of other provinces towards Punjab, irrespective of the fact that these were imaginary or based on facts.
"On the occasion of the announcement of NFC Award, Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Chief Ministers of the three provinces spoke highly of Punjab, which is a matter of pleasure for us. "I had announced in Karachi in the presence of the Chief Ministers of other provinces that Punjab would display a spirit of sacrifice for smaller provinces. It is a matter of satisfaction that the promise was honoured. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) has expressed its principled stance towards solution to genuine problems of the people of smaller provinces through the approval of NFC Award," he added.
He said the last eight and a half years' the dictator had also been given the power to decide NFC Award, which resulted in mistrust and misunderstandings between provinces. He further said that political entity of Pakistan suffered badly during the dictatorial regime and had NFC Award not been kept pending the smaller provinces would not have had any cause for complaint.
He said that it was the beauty of democracy that Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan People's Party are in power in Punjab, PPP and ANP in NWFP while Sindh is being ruled by PPP and MQM. Therefore, he said, he could rightly say that NFC Award pointed to a new charter between the four political parties of the country. "The people of the whole country irrespective of their province or region are rejoicing over NFC Award and such happy occasions that reflect national solidarity and collective happiness are rarely witnessed in the history of the country.
The prime minister, federal cabinet and chief ministers of all four provinces deserve rich credit for their broaden approach due to which NFC award was unanimously approved," he added. In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said rulers who remained in power during the last 10 years committed a national crime by failing to construct Basha Dam.