By Our Correspondent
MINGORA: Civil society members demanded of the provincial government to announce and release the Provincial Financial Commission (PFC) Award immediately.
The representatives of Awami Welfare Society and Citizen’s Network demanded so in a press briefing here in Mingora and said that the new local government law was passed in 2013 but no PFC award was announced except for the year 2016-17. They said that according to KP Local Government Act, 2013, the provincial government was bound to announce PFC award and grants for the districts prior to the commencement of new financial year.
They showed concern over the delay in KP and said that the process of devolution was incomplete without a formula to share the provincial divisible pool among the local governments.
“On October 15, 2015 the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued a notification regarding formation of provincial finance commission but after two years of its constitution has not come up with a full time formula to distribute provincial divisible pool among the local governments,” said Shamsul Hadi, adding that the last year Khyber Pakhtunkhwa PFC award was issued on May 3, 2016 only for one fiscal year of 2016-17.
He said that Section 52 (1b) of the KP Local Government Act 2013 required the Provincial Financial Commission to make recommendations on a formula for resource distribution between the province and the districts and among the local councils, however provincial government failed to act upon the law.
Referring to the provision under article 140-A of the constitution of Pakistan Dr Yasmin Gull the Executive Director of Awami Welfare Society said that the Provincial Finance Commission Award was vital for devolution of financial responsibility and authority to elected representatives of local governments as enshrined in the constitution.
“It is the responsibility of the provincial government to immediately fulfill its constitutional and legal responsibility by issuing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa PFC Award without any further delay,” she demanded.
She said that the PFC award must be adjusted to the population of the districts as districts having more population should get higher PFC award.
They expressed their hope that the KP government would realize its commitment towards democracy and strengthen the local governments by giving them more liberty in use of their financial share.
