The federal government has scheduled the long-awaited meeting of the National Finance Commission (NFC) for November 18, in a renewed effort to revive stalled fiscal harmonisation talks between the Centre and the provinces, Business Recorder reported, citing sources.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will chair the meeting in Islamabad, which is expected to address key issues surrounding the formulation of a new NFC Award — the constitutional framework that governs the distribution of national financial resources between federal and provincial governments.
The upcoming session will mark a critical step toward breaking the deadlock that has delayed the process for several months. The previous meeting, originally set for November 10, was postponed due to the unavailability of members.
“If the November 18 meeting takes place as planned, it will represent a major leap forward in finalising a new revenue-sharing formula,” an official said.
According to officials, the inaugural sitting will review working-level recommendations, establish technical sub-groups, and approve a roadmap for negotiations expected to continue over the coming months. The Finance Division described the process as “time-bound and outcome-oriented,” with an aim to reach consensus on the new Award.
The 11th NFC was formally notified by the President on August 22, but its first meeting, scheduled for August 28, was postponed at the request of the Sindh government following widespread flooding in the province. The NFC Secretariat later confirmed the deferral upon receiving Sindh’s formal communication.
The upcoming session is expected to set the tone for a “structured, consensus-driven” dialogue leading to a new distribution formula to replace the 7th NFC Award, which has governed federal-provincial financial relations for over a decade.
Discover more from Brackly News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
