Provinces’ uplift funds to be slashed

ISLAMABAD—From the devastation of earthquake it was believed that the government would slash the development funds of provinces by Rs5 billion.
According to sources, those developmental schemes which yet to be approved by central working party would be excluded from future development project.
The final decision in this connection would be made in the committee’s meeting which is due next week.
The deduction from development funds would be spent on rehabilitation of earthquake affected people in Azad Kashmir and NWFP province, sources added.
It is pertinent to mention that Federal Government and provinces are already locked in battle over share from the Federal divisible pool.
According to the existing formula provinces are eligible for getting 47% share, but now they are insisting on at least 50% share for the next 10 years.
The issue has already been left at the discretion of the President General Pervez Musharraf, who will decide after taking into consideration the positions taken by the provinces.—Agencies