The Ministry of Finance, in response to various news reports to this effect, clarifies that the federal government has neither reduced nor delayed the transfer of funds to any of the provinces. All the provinces have been receiving their share in the federal transfers in accordance with the NFC Award.
The federal government makes these transfers, fortnightly, on the same day of reporting of the collections by the collecting agencies (i.e, Federal Board of Revenue and Petroleum Division). Any shortfall in revenue collections results in a uniform change in the share of the Federation and the provinces in the Federal Transfers, says a press release issued here on Monday.
The ministry further clarifies that the government of Sindh has received Rs 441.8 billion, as federal transfers, during the first three quarters (July-March 2018-19) of the current fiscal year compared to Rs 418.1 billion during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year entailing a 5.7 percent increase, i.e, Rs 23.7 billion higher than the last year.
Similarly, the Punjab and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have received Rs 866.6 billion and Rs 290.4 billion, respectively, compared to Rs 801.7 billion and Rs 269.3 billion received during the corresponding period last year that has resulted in 8.1 percent and 7.9 percent increase in their Federal transfers. Balochistan also saw a 12.8 percent increase in its Federal Transfers by receiving Rs 180.3 billion compared to Rs 159.9 billion during the same corresponding period.-PR