PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said on Thursday that the KP government is committed to securing the constitutional and legitimate rights of the province, and that the youth must raise their voice in this regard.
“The provincial government will strongly speak out against injustice, and the youth must stand firm for the rights of the province,” he said while visiting the Department of Economics at the University of Peshawar and interacting with students.
The chief minister stressed the need to hold debates in all universities of the province on the issue of provincial rights and said that young people must be fully aware of the situation.
While sharing his views on the provincial government’s ambitions for promoting education and research, welfare initiatives for youth, and the province’s overall financial situation, he said that a corrupt group controlling the country had pushed the economy to the brink of collapse.
He alleged that the corrupt group in the federal government committed unprecedented corruption amounting to Rs 5,300 billion, the consequences of which the entire nation is now facing.
The chief minister stated that, in contrast, the provincial government believes in utilizing public funds strictly for public welfare and development, and concrete measures are being taken in this regard.
He added that despite discriminatory treatment from the federal government, the provincial government continues to deliver visible progress in both settled and merged districts. “If the federal government releases the province’s due rights on time, the ongoing journey of welfare and development can move forward with even greater speed and quality,” the chief minister added.
Referring to arrears owed to the province by the federal government, he said that over Rs 2,200 billion in net hydel profit remains unpaid to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Rs 1,375 billion under the National Finance Commission for the merged districts is outstanding. He said that although the federal government had pledged Rs 100 billion annually for the merged districts, only Rs 168 billion has been provided in seven years, leaving Rs 532 billion still due.
The chief minister added that billions more in water charges are also pending with the federal government. Discussing the law and order situation, he said that decisions made behind closed doors had caused irreversible damage to the province. However, the present government is making every possible effort to ensure peace, stability, and development.
The chief minister stated that during Imran Khan’s government, GDP growth stood at 6.2 percent, whereas it has now fallen to 2.6 percent, which he described as evidence of failed economic policies.
