Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments have agreed to solve the problems related to the development funds of the province and their fused tribal districts, said the advisor of the principal minister on Finance Mazzammil Asm on Wednesday.
When heading to a press conference here, Aslam said that the prime minister raised the problems related to the fused tribal districts, including the delay in the release of the funds of the accelerated implementation program, at the meeting with the Federal Minister of Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal.
“Us [centre and KP] I have agreed to solve the problems, with the province that share information with the federal government, ”he said.
Minister Iqbal, who was also present on the occasion, said he discussed the problems related to the development of the province with the main minister and his finance assistant, and both parties agreed to solve the problems through a joint mechanism.
Gandapur takes a delay in the release of AIP funds with Federal Minister Iqbal
He said the federal government would support the provincial government development program in all manners.
“Although we diverge politically, we both work for the interests of the State,” he said.
The Federal Minister said that the interests of the KP and Federal governments were linked to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.
He said that conversations with the provincial government were productive while arguing issues with the main minister and his team.
“The experts of the province and the center will sit together to align their priorities with five is described in the initiative of Uraan Pakistan,” he said.
Iqbal said that KP had great potential in tourism and mining, and was the entrance door to the Central Asia markets.
He said that the federal government had connected the economy in a short time, which led to the Moody’s World Credit Qualification Signature to change the perspective of Pakistani banks from stable to positive.
On the occasion, the assistant of the CM Aslam said that the development priorities of the federal government were already aligned with the Uraan Pakistan program.
He, however, said he was very crucial for the dripping of economic indicators in the life of the common man.
“During the meeting, our prime minister emphasized the review of the Prize of the National Finance Commission so that the province could receive its participation resulting from the population increase after Fata Fusion,” he said.
Aslam also said that the prime minister highlighted the question of greater coordination to abolish tax exemption for tribal districts and the Malakand division.
In addition, an advisory workshop was held on the National Economic Transformation Plan 29-2025 (Uraan Pakistan) in the House of the Principal Minister, according to an official statement.
Prime Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur was the main guest at the event, attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Amir Maqam, members of the provincial cabinet, parliamentarians and senior officials of the provincial and federal governments.
The Uraan Pakistan program focuses on five key sectors for the sustainable economic development of the country: exports, equity, e-pakistan, energy and infrastructure and environment and climate change.
Gandapur said KP was advancing with Uraan Pakistan.
“Despite political differences, we are determined to contribute to the economic development of Pakistan. These differences will not prevent us from working for the stability and economic progress of Pakistan, ”he said.
The prime minister said that the establishment of the law and order was more essential, since it formed the basis of development.
He added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had contributed significantly to the development of Pakistan and would continue to do so.
Gandapur said that in the first six months of the current financial year, the province achieved a budget surplus of RS169 billion and established a debt management fund of 70 billion.
He added that the province had successfully fulfilled the objective of the IMF, while the investments were witnessed in productive sectors.
The prime minister said that significant progress had already been achieved, aligned with the Uraan Pakistan program, and that the province would also lead in that effort throughout the country.
Touching the main initiatives of the provincial government, he said that RS15 billion of private investment for industrial areas had been secured.
Gandapur said that under the Infaf Rozgar scheme, entrepreneurs received loans that amounted to RS2 billion, which created job opportunities for more than 137,000 people.
He said that for the timely end of development projects in tribal districts, the remaining funds must be released in an emerging way.
“Under PSDP, from RS36 billion assigned for seven projects in the province, only RS2.65 billion have been assigned, while only 1 billion RS1 billion have been published so far. While new projects have been reflected for other provinces in PSDP, no new projects have been given to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ”he said.
The prime minister said that compared to other provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received a very small part of the PSDP funds compared to the RS49.2 billion Sindh, the 7.1 billion rupees of Punjab and the RS23.81 billion Baluchist.
He requested an increase in the allocation of PSDP funds for the province and the timely release of funds for the end of PSDP projects.
Gandapur also said that the project of the Chashma Right Bank channel, which was crucial for food security of the province, had not received appropriate funds or had carried out the construction of connection channels.
He said that although RS17.51 billion had been assigned for the project in the current prosecutor, funds had not yet been released.
“Our government will contribute with RS60 billion of its own resources for this project, with RS500 million already released for the required land,” he said.
The main minister complained that the details of the alignment of the project had not been shared by the center with the province, and the deadlines agreed by WAPDA for their activities had not adhered.
He also said that the Federal Government promised to assign RS17.5 billion for the project, but only RS2.5 billion had been assigned in the current PSDP, and even that amount had not been published.
Gandapur announced his government’s support to the Uraan Pakistan development agenda while demanding equal investments and funds together with the province.
Posted in Dawn, March 13, 2025
