CM Sindh vows to strengthen local bodies through PFC

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday vowed to strengthen local bodies financially by giving them substantial share through provincial finance commission.

The chief minister was presiding over the second preliminary meeting of the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) attended by officials and non-members including Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Mayor Sukkur Arsalan Islam and Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro.

CM Sindh said that the interim PFC have been given Rs61 billion during the current financial year, but will be provided more funds this year to make it effectively functional.  He added that local bodies should explore more avenues to improve their financial health.

Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi briefed about the criteria of PFC and said that population, backwardness and performance in terms of revenue collection is also taken into consideration.

CM Sindh said that under the PFC award a great slice of funds go into salaries, pension and establishment expenditures. Therefore, local bodies would be given development funds from district Annual Development Programs and other programs.

He said that presently ADP schemes worth Rs4 bn are in progress through Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. He added that district ADP would be now provided through local bodies.

CM Sindh authorised local govt minister Jam Khan Shoro to hold at least two more meetings during Ramzan to discuss the PFC formula. The final meeting will chaired by the chief minister after a consensus is reached.

The meeting also discussed and deliberated the formulas of previous PFC Awards. CM Sindh said that the PFC award is given for four years and the award given by the Sindh government would be appreciated.