It is a good omen that the 11th NFC Commission has been constituted. One hopes it will be able to come up with a consensual 8th Award, after a hiatus of almost 15 years, by eloquently taking into account the new dynamics of economic crunch, marginalisation of under-developed segments and the GDP-population ratio in a more rational manner. Reports say that the Centre is already proposing a cut in provinces share from the divisible pool, by at least 10%, as it struggles to make ends meet, and contemplates demanding allocations for Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK that fall within its purview.

The federation that sits almost empty handed after doling out revenue to the provinces now wants the federal taxes to be linked with improvements in the education, health, populati

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