The federal government opened the first session of the 11th National Finance Commission (NFC) with a conciliatory message on Tuesday, assuring provinces that Islamabad’s goal is to listen, not impose. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the Centre was committed to addressing provincial concerns through dialogue and mutual consensus.
The finance minister noted that Pakistan’s economic challenges required “collective responsibility,” stressing that all federating units must work together to stabilise the national economy. He reiterated that the federal government would adopt a consultative stance throughout the NFC process, encouraging provinces to present their viewpoints openly.
Officials from all four provinces attended the meeting, outlining their fiscal priorities, revenue expectations and development needs. Many reiterated demands for greater autonomy in resource utilisation and a fairer distribution formula that reflects ground realities.
The Centre acknowledged these concerns, with Aurangzeb assuring participants that transparency and cooperation would shape the commission’s upcoming sessions. The meeting also reviewed the existing revenue-sharing arrangement and discussed potential adjustments to improve financial balance between the federation and provinces.
Participants agreed to reconvene after detailed technical assessments, marking what officials described as the beginning of a more collaborative phase in federal–provincial financial policymaking.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.