PHC Orders Attorney General to Address NFC Award Delay

News Desk
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has summoned the National Finance Commission (NFC) to respond to a petition regarding the delay in issuing a new NFC Award.
The court has also put the Attorney General for Pakistan on notice, requiring his presence at the next hearing scheduled for November 11.
The petition, filed by former provincial minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra, challenges the federal government’s failure to issue a new NFC Award, which he argues is necessary to fulfill constitutional obligations and address financial needs stemming from the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Jhagra contends that the non-issuance of a fresh NFC Award is illegal, citing significant changes in the legal and factual landscape of the country, including the devolution of powers to provinces under the Eighteenth Amendment and the implications of the 2017 population census.
The court’s decision to hear the case underscores the importance of timely financial allocations for provincial governments, particularly in light of the recent administrative changes. The upcoming hearing will be crucial in determining the future of fiscal policy and resource distribution in Pakistan.