PM Shehbaz announces meeting on NFC Award after 15-year hiatus

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that a committee would be formed to review the NFC Award and a first meeting on the subject would be convened in August after a hiatus of 15 year.

Addressing a Jirga in Peshawar, he said the issues raised today by tribal elders must be taken seriously and addressed through collective consultation. He noted that KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has rightly pointed out that 15 years had passed since the NFC Award, and that it was now due for review.

He announced that the committee would also take up Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share in the NFC Award.

The prime minister said in the 2010 NFC Award, resources had been allocated to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for its fight against terrorism.

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“A total of Rs700 billion was provided to KP over different periods, and funding for the province will continue until terrorism was fully eradicated,” he said.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the frontline province in the war against terrorism — and still is — while Balochistan also faced terrorist incidents. However, Balochistan was not included in the NFC mechanism for receiving funds to counter terrorism.

He added that Ali Amin Gandapur had raised other demands as well. “Just as a committee was formed for the NFC Award, we will also sit together to address your concerns and form a committee that will look into them seriously,” he said.

PM Sharif said that “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a great and beautiful province whose people are brave, honourable, and full of integrity.”

He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa supported Pakistan in 1947 and have always upheld the country’s flag with pride. “You have always defended Pakistan with strength and courage,” he said.

The premier said that the people of the province have made great sacrifices that history will never forget.

“Whenever Pakistan was in need, you put aside all differences and stood united under the national flag. I am here to pay you heartfelt tribute.”

Sharif said when the historian will write the history of Pakistan, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and their 77-year-long journey of sacrifices and struggle will be remembered in golden words.

He recalled the 2016 APS tragedy, saying children and teachers were martyred in the brutal attack — including the children of soldiers.

He said a well-considered decision was made during a meeting in Peshawar, and what followed is known to all.

Shehbaz Sharif said that during the war with India, just as people from other provinces prayed for the Pakistan Army’s success, the people of Peshawar and other southern districts also prayed for the military’s victory.

He recalled that on May 6 and 7, the enemy launched a surprise attack and martyred and injured innocent Pakistanis.

“At 2:30am, the field marshal woke me up and informed me that India had attacked again. What the Pakistan Army taught the enemy under the field marshal’s leadership that day is a lesson India will never forget — not even on the Day of Judgment,” he said.