The NWFP Chief Minister, Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti, has felicitated the whole nation particularly the people of NWFP on signing of 7th national finance commission (NFC) award by the President and termed it reflection of environment of cooperation, national unity and consensus in the country.
He said that there is no precedent of rights given to the province in the past. He said that the award will be implemented from the next financial year starting July 1, 2010 and will benefit both the federation and the federating units. The chief minister said that under the new award the share of the provinces in the divisible pool has been enhanced to 57.7 percent while the share of the Federal government will be 42.3 percent.
For the first time in history of the country, share on the basis of population has been decreased to 82 percent from 100 percent adding that 5 percent share will be added on revenue basis while 2.7 percent share will be given on resources obtained from area. Likewise smaller provinces will be given 10.3 percent share on poverty basis.
He said that 7th National Finance Commission Award is the fruit of patience and sacrifice demonstrated by both the federation and the provinces. He lauded the positive role of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin in this connection. He also eulogised the efforts of NFC teams of federation and federating unit's particularly assiduous efforts of NWFP team.
He expressed the hope that Chasma Left Canal project will formally be approved in PSDP meeting on March 18. This project costing more than 60 billion rupees will irrigate more than three lakh acres of barren land of southern districts.
He said that his government with support of federal government is confronting anti-state elements on one side while on the other is taking sincere efforts for speedy development of the province.
Mega projects like Baizai Irrigation Scheme, Clean Drinking Water from Warsak for Peshawar, Modren Bus Terminal, including attainment of Net Hydel Profit and consensus on NFC Award augment this fact. He termed these successes as better working relationship and cordial relation between the federation and provincial government. He said that democracy would further strengthen in the country due to better understanding between the federation and federating units.