Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday told the inaugural meeting of the 11th National Finance Commission (NFC) that the Centre was there to listen to the stance of the provinces.

State broadcaster PTV shared images from the meeting on social media platform X, which showed Aurangzeb greeting Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

It said that the meeting was held at the Finance Division.

According to a handout issued by the finance ministry, he made the comments in his opening remarks. The minister chaired the meeting as negotiations for the sharing of federal divisible resources between the Centre and the provinces formally began.

The press release said that at the outset of the meeting, the minister stressed that it had provided an opportunity for mutual cooperation, upholding constitutional responsibility.

He noted that the forum was established under Article 150 of the Constitution, adding that the 10th NFC Award had expired in July this year.

“In this context, the importance of this meeting increases further,” he said. He said that the federal government was of the view that the 11th NFC meeting be convened “without any delay”.

He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself had stated that he wanted to hold the meeting as soon as possible.

“The provinces had also expressed their determination to fulfil this constitutional responsibility,” he said. The minister added that, however, it had to be postponed due to floods in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

He further said that the best solution for speculations and concerns regarding the NFC was a “sincere and transparent” dialogue.

“We are here........

© Dawn Business