LAHORE, Pakistan News: The government formally announced the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award after long-drawn-out negotiations that continued for three days.

Addressing a news conference here, Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin revealed the draft for inter-provincial sharing of funds on while chief ministers of all the four provinces have agreed upon.

Tarin said the 56 pc would be distributed among the provinces from divisible pool. He said the federation would now enhance its resources besides slashing expenses.

He said 82 pc distribution of the resources would be done on the basis of population.

Tarin said Sindh would get 6 billion rupees from the share of federal government, adding that Balochistan would get 9 pc of the share and that it would get 83 billion rupees in the wake of special needs.

It has been agreed that provinces would collect the tax from now, he said. “Services of tax is a provincial matter and the provinces would decide it now their self.”

Earlier, Chief Minster Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif on the occasion said that the four provinces had agreed over the news formula, adding that “After restoration of the judiciary in Pakistan, it is second gift for the nation.”

For the past two decades distribution of national resources had been carried out under a single point population based formula. The new award, however, will employ multiple criteria, including inverse population density and poverty.

The 7th NFC Award meeting came to an end that continued for three days under the chairmanship of Shaukat Tarin.

On Thursday, the provinces failed to firm up the formula for inter-provincial (horizontal) distribution of funds from the federal divisible pool even after long-drawn-out negotiations that continued till late in the night on the second day of the NFC meeting.

The differences between Punjab and Sindh on revenue were blamed for the delay in the finalisation of the formula.

Reportedly, the intervention of the chief ministers, especially of Punjab and Sindh, had helped negotiators make significant progress and prevent a deadlock between the federating units.

Sreesanth captured six out of the 13 Sri Lankan wickets that fell on the third day’s play at Kanpur to put India on the brink of a big innings victory. Sri Lanka in reply to India’s 642 crashed to 229 all out in their first innings and have already lost four wickets after following on!

The Lankans had a bad first session with Sreesanth picking up three wickets – opener Paranavitana (chasing a wide away going delivery to get caught for 38), Sangakkara (dragging a big cover drive onto the stumps to get bowled for 44) and Samaraweera (dragging his cut onto the stumps). Sri Lanka lost one more wicket in Angelo Mathews before lunch to get reduced to 138 for 5.

In the afternoon session, India had to wait for a long time before getting their next scalp as Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene got a partnership going. It was again Sreesanth who provided the breakthrough by having Prasanna (39) caught behind playing a loose cut shot. Mahela Jayawardene (47) followed him back to the pavilion after a big shot off debutant spinner Pragyan Ojha failed to clear mid on. Sreesanth soon picked up his fifth wicket when he bowled left handed Rangana Herath with one that swung away from middle to hit the off stump. Sri Lanka went to Tea at 219 for 8.

The visitors got bowled out within no time after Tea and the follow on was enforced by Dhoni. Once again Sreesanth came good for India as he forced Dilshan to nick him behind. In a surprise move, Dhoni brought on Virender Sehwag in the 11th over and the part timer got rid of Paranavitana with an arm ball that had him lbw.

Sri Lanka got into horrible trouble moments later with Mahela Jayawardene getting run out due to a misjudgement of a single by Sangakkara. The Lankan Captain himself exited from the middle after dragging on a cut shot off Harbhajan onto the stumps. Sri Lanka finished the day’s play ar 57 for 4 in their second innings and know very well that nothing can save them from a big defeat tomorrow.

? 2009, CricketMove.Com. All rights reserved. Partner with APakistanNews.com

Pakistan after getting reduced to a disastrous 85 for 5 fought back superbly through Umar Akmal and his older brother Kamran Akmal to end Day 3 at 307 for 8. Umar Akmal went onto score a century on Test Debut! The Akmal Brothers put on a terrific counter punch with a partnership of 176 for the sixth wicket. New Zealand still hold the game in their control as Pakistan have a deficit of 122 runs and there are a couple of days left in this Dunedin match. Pakistan would be looking for some weather intervention to keep New Zealand away from a victory.

New Zealand resumed Day 3 at 404 for 8 and could add a further 25 runs before getting bowled out. Mohammad Asif finished with 4 for 108 in 34 overs. Pakistan in their first innings got off to a bad start when Khurram Manzoor dragged his forcing shot onto his stumps off Chris Martin in the 4th over. By lunch, Pakistan lost their other opener Imran Farhat who challenged an lbw decision through a review but in vain. Martin was again the successful bowler to take this wicket and Pak went to lunch at 50 for 2.

Pakistan had more trouble in store in the afternoon session as they lost three more wickets to put New Zealand in a winning position. Shane Bond bowled at his very best to pick the wickets of Skipper Mohammad Yousuf (17), Fawad Alam (29) and Shoaib Malik (2) in the space of around 4 overs. Yousuf played an uppish drive back to Bond who came up with a forward diving catch. Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik both fell to rising deliveries.

At 85 for 5, the Kiwis were right on top of Pakistan but the Akmal brothers had different ideas. Umar Akmal initiated the counter attack by slogging Vettori over mid wicket for a six and his older brother Kamran joined the fight in same vein. For the next 40 overs or so, the Kiwi attack was put to sword before Kamran Akmal threw his wicket by giving the charge to Vettori but only to edge his big shot to slip. The wicket keeper batsman scored a superb 82 from 136 balls with 11 fours and a six.

Towards the fag end of the day’s play, Umar Akmal got dismissed getting caught at deep point after a brilliant 129 (from 160 balls with 21 fours and 2 sixes). Vettori rounded off the day with the wicket of Umar Gul.

? 2009, CricketMove.Com. All rights reserved. Partner with APakistanNews.com

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: The Federal government on Tuesday agreed to Pakistan Sugar Mills Association’s dictated ex-mill sugar price of Rs 48 per kg for Sindh and Rs 49.75 per kg for other provinces after marathon negotiations lasting over more than five hours.

After the meeting, Minister for Industries and Production, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, who had reportedly sided with the representatives of sugar millers’ also announced that a strong worded letter written by the Secretary Industries for a crackdown on mills to recover hoarded stock was being withdrawn immediately. “I have also requested the provincial governments to release the arrested dealers along with their stock,” Wattoo told journalists who had waited for his talk for at least five hours in the Ministry of Industries corridors.

The Minister was asked how he was projecting the viewpoint of sugar mills which had been termed ’sugar mafia and thieves’ by the federal and provincial government, he parried the question. According to official sources, there was a deadlock in talks between the sugar mills headed by the Acting PSMA Chairman, Javed Kayani, but after the intervention “from the top”, government agreed to a price that was actually dictated by the PSMA.

The minister also failed to respond to some harsh questions of journalists who had worked out that people would be getting sugar at Rs 55 per kg in cities and Rs 60 per kg in far flung areas. Wattoo was of the view that there was no shortage of sugar but its rates had been increased due to international trend. He, however, failed to answer, the question whether the sugar mill owners had purchased sugarcane at international prices.

“Presently 1.2 million tons of sugar is available with the mills and TCP, which means there is no shortage,” he maintained. According to the Minister, TCP is importing 50,000 tons of sugar, in addition to 75,000 tons, which has recently been decided by the ECC. In reply to a question, he said that the landed cost of sugar is about Rs 65 per kg but the government will sell sugar at Rs 38 per kg at utility stores.

He said PSMA had agreed to sell 10,000 tons of sugar to the Punjab government at Rs 40 per kg for Ramzan Bazars , asking other provincial governments to strike similar deals with local sugar associations to provide sugar at cheap rates. Punjab and NWFP governments were asked to release sugar consignments stopped at Rahimyar Khan and Dera Ismail Khan so that there should be no supply issue.

The representatives of sugar mills who were accompanying the Minister at the briefing venue were snubbed by the journalists when one of their top representatives repeatedly ‘dictated’ the Minister. Interestingly, Secretary Industries Shahab Khawaja and Chairman TCP, Saeed Khan, kept themselves away from the minister.