Pakistan Plans NFC Award Amendment for Funding Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK, Emphasizes Provincial Cooperation

The federal minister for planning, Ahsan Iqbal, indicated potential amendments to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award mechanism to provide equal funding for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir alongside provinces. He proposed that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) should be funded from the divisible pool rather than solely federal resources.

Iqbal stressed the need for provincial cooperation and reforms in the NFC Award to reduce federal expenditure. He highlighted the Rs500 billion wasted on the Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric project due to poor planning and mentioned ongoing proposals from an international consultant for its restoration.

A committee has been formed by the Prime Minister to address accountability for the project's failures. The minister aims for the Bhasha Dam's completion by 2030 and reported that Rs141 billion of the allocated PSDP amount has been utilized, with 10 development projects approved in November 2025, creating 994 jobs. The Green Building Code will be mandatory for future projects, and over 20,000 youth are being trained under the IT industry revival project.