‘Stepchild’ treatment: K-P accuses Centre of withholding Rs3tr in dues | The Express Tribune

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday said the federal government had yet to release the province’s dues for the merged districts, lamenting that K-P continued to face financial discrimination.

He made these remarks while launching a wide-ranging beautification project for Peshawar aimed at restoring the historic character of the provincial capital.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said that “some ill-informed individuals” questioned the one per cent share K-P receives under the NFC Award for the war against terrorism, adding that they overlooked the fact that the province had made the greatest sacrifices in that fight.

He said other provinces were receiving more funds under various heads, while K-P remained deprived.

Speaking about long-pending payments, the chief minister said Rs2,200 billion in net hydel profit dues were outstanding with the federal government, “yet no one speaks about it”.

He added that the federation had pledged Rs100 billion annually for the merged districts but had failed to release the committed funds, leaving Rs550 billion unpaid. “The administrative merger of the former FATA has taken place, but its financial merger has not yet,” he said.

The chief minister said Rs3,000 billion were outstanding against the federal government. He also noted that K-P’s rightful share in the NFC Award stood at 19.4 per cent, but the province was given only 14.6 per cent.

“We demand our full rights. The federal government is treating Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa like a stepchild,” he said.

He added that the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had voted for Imran Khan’s vision for the third time, and “we will provide them every possible facility”.
All laws and policies introduced in the province, he said, would focus solely on public welfare and the greater public interest.

Regarding the beautification programme, the chief minister said the rehabilitation of road infrastructure, installation of streetlights, measures to ease vehicular congestion, placement of sculptures, development of green spaces and other upgrades would be undertaken across the provincial capital.

He said Peshawar, as the capital city, was a collective responsibility. “We will continue to bring forward more projects to improve its development and aesthetics, this city is our face,” he noted.

He added that a comprehensive master plan for Peshawar would soon be prepared in consultation with public representatives.

Earlier, officials briefed the chief minister that the beautification project included the rehabilitation of the Peshawar Ring Road, Jamrud Road and GT Road.
Provincial Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Meena Khan Afridi also addressed the ceremony. The event was attended by elected representatives from Peshawar, former MPAs and senior officials of the Local Government Department.