ISLAMABAD: With a crucial National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting set for Thursday (Dec 4), the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) ramped up its criticism of the government on Wednesday, calling for an urgent review of economic policies, the fulfillment of NFC commitments, and swift action to tackle the worsening governance crisis.
Speaking at a press conference, TTAP leaders, including PTI’s Asad Qaiser, former Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, and ex-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra, expressed serious concerns about Pakistan’s declining economic indicators, rising inflation and the ongoing delay in implementing the NFC Award.
Qaiser criticised Thursday’s NFC meeting as little more than a symbolic gesture, emphasising that the country’s unprecedented inflation has made basic goods unaffordable for millions, while long-standing commitments to the newly merged districts of former FATA remain unmet.
He recalled that a recommendation by the Sartaj Aziz Committee had called for a Rs1 trillion allocation for the FATA region, along with an additional three percent share from the provinces.
However, he lamented that no practical progress has been made on this front. He also pointed to the economic devastation caused by decades of terrorism and the Afghan conflict’s impact on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economy.
He reiterated the warnings of former Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding Afghanistan’s evolving situation, emphasising the need for all state institutions to operate within constitutional boundaries. “The country today needs peace, development and the supremacy of the Constitution,” he added.
Zubair, meanwhile, dismissed the government’s claims of economic stabilisation, pointing to the stark contrast between official narratives and the ground realities.
Despite a decline in exports, he noted, the government continued to project an overly optimistic outlook. He cited recent government surveys indicating the highest unemployment rate in 21 years, with nearly 45 percent of Pakistan’s population now living below the poverty line.
The former Sindh governor also referenced the IMF’s latest review report, which raised serious concerns about the country’s governance. He criticised the Sindh government’s handling of urban issues, particularly the situation in Karachi.
Jhagra, addressing Pakistan’s global governance rankings, pointed out that the country had dropped to 109th out of 120 nations, the lowest in South Asia.
He accused the federal government of disregarding both the IMF’s findings and the constitutional significance of the NFC Award.
“With a fragile mandate of just 17 seats at the centre, this government lacks the legitimacy to make critical national decisions,” he said, adding that denying the merged districts their rightful NFC share was a violation of the Constitution and the law.
Haleem Adil Sheikh, president of PTI Sindh, highlighted the stark disparity between Karachi’s significant economic contribution, generating 65 percent of national revenue, and its lack of basic services.
The TTAP leaders called for urgent action to address the country’s economic and governance crises, urging the government to implement policy reforms, fulfil NFC commitments, and restore the rights of the provinces and merged districts.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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