K-P peeved at stoppage of hydel profit arrears

CM says Centre is reluctant to release funds for tribal districts too

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has expressed serious concerns over what he called the federal government’s ‘reluctance’ to transfer development funds for the newly merged areas and pay the province its net hydel profit arrears.

He said that the provincial government would exercise all the political, constitutional and legal options to get the due rights of the province and no compromise would be made on these issues.

Chairing a high level meeting held here on Thursday at the Chief Minister House, Khan maintained that non-compliance of the commitments made by the federal government regarding provision of development funds for the current fiscal year has been badly affecting the development programs of the province especially in merged areas.

This, he said, is unacceptable because tribal districts had been ignored in the past in development projects and now deserved to be developed on priority basis.

Matters related to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, arrears of Net Hydel Profit (NHP) and federal fund transfers were discussed in detail during the meeting.

The chief minister observed that the government at the Centre is reluctant to provide development funds for the newly merged districts (NMDs) as per its commitment which is sheer injustice to the people.

He said that decades of militancy had left the economy and infrastructure of the tribal districts completely destroyed. There were no health and education facilities for the local residents too and the federal government was also not paying any attention to it.

He expressed resolve of the provincial government to utilize all the available options to get the due rights of the province.

He clarified that his government believes in investment in human development, adding that despite difficult financial situation, the provincial government had undertaken various development projects in different sectors to materialize its vision regarding uniform development of the province.

Besides, billions of rupees have also been allocated for providing aid and relief to the people affected by recent flash floods in various districts.

The chief minister reiterated that the completion of ongoing mega projects is the top most priority of his government for which all the relevant departments would have to fulfil their responsibilities well in time.

He directed all the administrative departments to regularly hold monthly review meetings so that completion of ongoing development projects can be ensured within the stipulated timelines.

Provincial Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Bangash, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, administrative secretaries of departments concerned and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2022.