ISLAMABAD: In a high-stakes move ahead of Friday’s crucial National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting, the federal government convened a tense preparatory session Tuesday to strategize its roadmap, sources inside the Finance Ministry revealed. Chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, the closed-door meeting zeroed in on sensitive issues – from revisiting contentious NFC Award recommendations to forming powerful sub-groups aimed at steering the fiercely contested resource-sharing talks. The upcoming 11th NFC meeting promises to be a battleground over the constitutional distribution of tax revenues, borrowing powers, and the heavy financial burden of national and provincial projects, raising the stakes for fiscal federalism in a politically charged environment. With rival provinces waiting in the wings, this internal government manoeuvring sets the stage for what could be a showdown over the country’s financial future.—TAHIR AMIN