PESHAWAR: MAY 5, 2026:
Governor Khyber Pakhtunwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday said all political forces must play a united and serious role for securing the constitutional and legitimate rights of the province, urging the federal government to announce a new National Finance Commission (NFC) Award at the earliest. Addressing a dialogue on the National Finance Commission organized by Federal Youth Parliament Pakistan at the Governor House, the Governor called for revisiting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share in the NFC Award to ensure development and stability in the province. The event was attended by Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader Ahmad Karim Kundi, former provincial ministers Inayatullah Khan and Sikandar Sherpao, Member Provincial Assembly Nisar Baz, Advocate Alam Khan, Wafa Wazir, members of the provincial assembly, office-bearers and members of the Federal Youth Parliament, besides a large number of students. Speakers at the dialogue discussed distribution of resources through the NFC mechanism and presented proposals regarding future NFC Awards for the provinces. Speaking on the occasion, Governor Kundi appreciated the Federal Youth Parliament Pakistan for arranging a discussion on an important national issue and said active participation of youth in development, law and order, and overall governance was essential. He said the NFC Award was not merely a matter of financial distribution but also a test of justice, equality and national unity. He said that the 7th NFC Award was finalized in 2010, however, no new award had been announced since then, which, he said, was not only an administrative delay but also an issue concerning provincial rights. The Governor said that after the merger of the erstwhile FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province’s population, area and responsibilities had increased, making revision of the existing NFC formula necessary. He stressed that the province’s share should be enhanced to facilitate development projects and provision of basic facilities in the merged districts. Highlighting the province’s energy potential, he said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had the highest hydel power capacity and termed timely payment of net hydel profit as the province’s constitutional right, adding delays in payments were worsening financial difficulties. He also expressed concern over non-provision of the full three percent share allocated for the merged districts. Governor Kundi said he would continue playing his role for protection of the province’s rights and added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a producer of oil, gas and electricity. He said awareness should be created among youth regarding the province’s rights and issues. Referring to an All Parties Conference convened at the Governor House, he said it was organized for evolving a joint strategy on provincial rights, but no representative from the provincial government attended the meeting.
“We have to present our case before the federation with arguments and reasoning, and for this the provincial government will have to come forward,” he added.
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