Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the federal government’s unwavering commitment to the development and welfare of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during a meeting with PML-N KP General Secretary Murtaza Javed Abbasi at the PM House on Thursday.
“We are dedicated to the progress of KP,” the prime minister stated, as Abbasi invited him to visit the province and lay the foundation stone for an additional interchange on the Hazara Motorway. The proposed interchange aims to improve connectivity for residents of Abbottabad and surrounding areas.
The prime minister’s assurance comes a day after KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur accused the federal government of withholding the province’s due funds. Gandapur had earlier criticized the centre for delaying the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, warning of “decisive action” if the new NFC Award is not announced by April.
Gandapur highlighted that the merger of KP and FATA increased the province’s population by 5.7 million (a 3% rise) and expanded its land area by 22,000 square kilometers (3.8%). Despite this, KP’s share in the NFC Award remained stagnant at 14%, instead of the expected 19.6%. He also pointed out that the federal government had pledged Rs100 billion annually for the development of merged districts over six years, totaling Rs600 billion, but only Rs132 billion had been disbursed so far.
The chief minister further stated that the province received only Rs66 billion annually for operational expenses in the merged districts, instead of the promised Rs88 billion. He warned that this neglect was fostering distrust among the people of these areas.
Gandapur noted that the KP government had increased its revenue by 55%, cleared Rs75 billion in outstanding dues from the previous administration, and established Pakistan’s first Debt Management Fund with an initial allocation of Rs30 billion, aiming to raise it to Rs150 billion. He lamented that despite bearing the brunt of terrorism and ensuring the safety of the rest of the country, KP continued to face injustices.
In a separate press conference, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari criticized the KP government’s performance, contrasting it with Punjab’s achievements. She highlighted the sharp fare hike in Peshawar’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, where fares rose from Rs110 to Rs510, while Punjab’s electric bus fares remained at Rs20. Bukhari pointed out that the Peshawar BRT project cost over Rs120 billion, whereas Punjab implemented three transport projects for less than that amount.
Bukhari accused the KP government of taking credit for old projects, such as the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC), initiated by Wapda in 1995, and the Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway, which is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). She also revealed that the Peshawar BRT contractor had filed a Rs57 billion compensation claim against the KP government in an international court.
The Punjab minister criticized KP’s employment record, noting that only 173 jobs were created in the technology sector, compared to over 100,000 jobs under Punjab’s Suthra Punjab Programme. She also claimed that KP’s “Ikhtiyar Awam Ka” mobile app was a copy of Punjab’s “Maryam Ki Dastak” app, with a registration rate of just 0.04%.
In healthcare, Bukhari stated that KP built only 25 dialysis units in the past 12 years, most of which were now non-functional. She also criticized the province’s failure to meet housing targets, with only 200 homes completed out of a promised 5 million.
Bukhari highlighted Punjab’s initiatives, such as the “Honhaar Scholarships” programme, which has awarded scholarships to 30,000 students, with plans to expand to 50,000. She also mentioned Punjab’s efforts to provide electric bikes, build homes under the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme, and distribute Green Tractors and Kisan Cards to farmers.
She accused the KP government of failing to address security issues, particularly in Kurram, while CM Gandapur focused on political activities in Islamabad. Bukhari concluded by stating that the KP government was attempting to take credit for projects it did not initiate while failing to deliver on its promises in key sectors like transport, education, and healthcare.
