The NFC debate
Once again there is debate surrounding the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, driven by short-term fiscal concerns and external pressures. It is important to acknowledge the pivotal role the NFC…
NFC and fiscal equity
Initiated by the centre and fiercely contested by the provinces, the reallocation of the NFC comes under debate each time the annual budget is due or when a new federal…
An accountant’s approach to NFC?
A lot has been written recently about the need to revisit and reduce the share of the provinces in the 7th National Finance Commission Award, but sadly most of it…
NFC: call for fiscal reforms
In an analysis of the 7th NFC Award (‘Fiscal realities: A case for NFC reform’, March 20), published on these pages, I showed that provincial governments collect a small fraction…
Why the NFC matters
The ongoing economic downturn in Pakistan necessitates a search for fiscal solutions. While the central government must explore avenues to achieve fiscal stability, it should refrain from retracting the National…
Re-aligning NFC: coalition govt faces a challenge from within
Reportedly, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has requested resumption of dialogue on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award to address the imbalances in the distribution of fiscal resources between the…
Population and the NFC
According to the 7th Population Census results announced recently, Pakistan’s population has crossed a staggering 241 million as against 208 million in the 2017 census – registering an increase of…
Anatomy of the Seventh NFC
The National Finance Commission is locked in a stalemate. Constitutionally mandated to give an Award for distribution of federal tax revenues, it has succeeded only sporadically. The last successful NFC…
Fata: the NFC correction
The 25th Constitutional Amendment, unanimously passed by public representatives from all the four provinces of the country shifted a federal responsibility to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It was unprecedented in…
Ex-Fata and the NFC
The National Finance Commission is a great Pakistani institution and a highly robust constitutional mechanism. It is similar to other federations in place worldwide but in its decision-making mechanism is…
