Centre asks provinces to announce their own finance commission awards.

Byline: Syed Irfan Raza

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Imran Khan, during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, directed the provincial governments to announce Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) awards to end any 'disparity' in distribution of funds among districts.

The cabinet decided to initiate a process to evaluate professional degrees and technical skills of pilots and other staff of all airlines of the country, including the national flag carrier - Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

It also approved an increase in the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI) pension from Rs6,500 to Rs8,500 per month.

The cabinet was told that Mr Khan had no fear of the opposition's desire of 'minus one' (removal of the prime minister) and he and his government would definitely complete their five-year term.

'The prime minister directed all provinces to immediately announce their Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) Awards to ensure equal distribution of funds provided by the centre,' Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry told Dawn after the meeting.

In a post-cabinet meeting press conference, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said: 'The prime minister ordered the provinces to make Provincial Financial Commissions functional.'

Cabinet decides to evaluate professional degrees, technical skills of pilots, other staff of all airlines, approves increase in EOBI pension

The minister said when the meeting discussed the issue of 'disparity' in distribution of funds among districts, particularly in Punjab, the prime minister said that when the centre released funds to a province under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, it was the responsibility of the province to ensure equal distribution of funds at the grass root level.

Mr Faraz said it had been observed that most of development funds had been spent in the constituency of the chief minister of the province. 'We have seen exceptional utilisation of funds in Lahore in the past,' he added

Fawad Chaudhry said the PFCs were constituted by former president General Pervez Musharraf's regime for devolution of funds to the gross root level (from provinces to union council level).

He said after Musharraf era, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz wrapped up the PFCs and they did not exit till to date.

Mr Faraz said to check misuse of funds and excessive expenditure by public sector development organisations like Pakistan Public Works Department, the prime minister ordered formation of a special...