NFC award to be updated within 180 days: CM Afridi

PESHAWAR
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Wednesday claimed the federal government had assured provinces that the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award would be updated within 180 days, adding that the financial share of the merged districts would be incorporated into the new award.
Talking to reporters after attending a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), the chief minister said the case of KP was presented comprehensively and the province’s constitutional, financial and developmental rights were strongly advocated.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had assured participants that regular meetings would be held to finalise the NFC Award within six months. In case a consensus could not be reached during the stipulated period, the award would be updated through a presidential order after submission of a summary to the president. Mr Afridi termed the inclusion of the merged districts’ financial share in the new NFC Award a major development for KP, particularly the erstwhile tribal districts.
The chief minister said proposed cuts in the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) for the merged districts had been substantially reduced following negotiations, although the provincial government had sought further improvements.
He expressed hope that allocations under both the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and AIP would be enhanced to accelerate development in the region. Referring to Article 151 of the Constitution, he said ensuring the free movement of essential commodities was the responsibility of the federation.
He added that if the constitutional provision could not be implemented effectively, provinces should be allowed to formulate their own policies.
The chief minister said the federal government had assured KP that 175,000 tonnes of wheat would be supplied under an agreement with PASSCO at a fixed rate and that wheat prices would not be increased.
Mr Afridi said the province was making the highest investment in law and order in the country, adding that more than Rs30 billion had been spent since Oct 5, 2025, on strengthening the police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Special Branch.
He said the provincial government would continue investing in security institutions to ensure the protection of life and property.
The chief minister said relations with the federation would be pursued in line with the interests of the province and its people, adding that participation in NEC and NFC meetings was essential for safeguarding provincial rights.
He said education, health and law and order remained the government’s top priorities, while welfare initiatives such as the Ehsaas Programme, shelter homes, Zamung Kor and No One Sleeps Hungry were being implemented across the province.
Mr Afridi described the Sehat Card as a landmark initiative launched by former prime minister Imran Khan, through which free healthcare facilities were being provided to citizens.
Highlighting environmental issues, he said KP accounted for around 45pc of Pakistan’s forests, with forests covering 26.7pc of the province’s total area. He announced that a dedicated fund would be established to promote afforestation and said the government would purchase trees grown on private land instead of allowing their indiscriminate cutting.
He added that incentives would also be provided to landowners planting trees on barren land to further expand forest cover across the province.