PESHAWAR:TheKhyberPakhtunkhwa government has decided to convene a multi-party jirga to discuss the delay in the award of the eighth National Finance Commission.

It also will contact the Balochistan and Sindh governments on the matter.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by KP finance ministerMuzafar Said at the Civil Secretariat on Saturday.

A handout issued here said the meeting decided to adopt a new course of action in order to secure the province`s rights.

The participants discussed the provincial government`s strategy for the NFC Award and progress on in its preparation.

They decided to prepare realistic figures of poverty for the province, revitalisation of planning and development department and the Bureau of Statistics, increase in the number of financial advisers, and appointment of expert consultants.

The finance minister said the federal government was politicising all issues, including that of the NFC Award, which was inimical to interests of the state.He said under the current circumstances, it had become necessary for the provincial government to take all political forcesinto conndence on thoseissues.

Mr. Muzafar said though the issue of net hydel profit uncapping had been resolved, the province had yet to get around Rs635 billion share in the profit under the AGN Kazi formula. He said a meeting would soon be convened in this respect.

The minister said the federal government had to pay Rs29 billion arrears in lieu of oil and gas cess and Rs119 billion under the 1991 Water Accord to KP.

He said the federal government acted as guarantor in the 1991 Water Accord and other provinces used the KP`s share of around three million cubic feet of waterfor around a decade putting its charge at Rs1.19 trillion.

Mr. Muzafar said the provincial government had raised the issue at the Council of Common Interest but the federal government`s response had not been positive.

He said the payment of one percent from the federal divisible pool for war on terrorism was just like a joke with the poor economy of the province and therefore, it should be increased up to five percent.

Provincial finance secretary Ali Raza Bhutta, special secretary Kamran Rehman, consultant Ihtesham Khan, NFC member Professor Ibrahim Khan and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.