Treasury, opposition in rare bonhomie in K-P

Both sides agree to join hands against Centre over non-release of funds

PESHAWAR:

In a surprising move, the treasury and opposition benches in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have agreed to show a united front by adopting a joint resolution in the assembly blasting the federal government’s action of holding up the province’s funds.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have vowed to move forward with a joint strategy and exercise all political, constitutional and legal means to get the province its rightful due.

This was decided in a joint meeting of the provincial cabinet members and opposition leaders here on Thursday with K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair.

The meeting was attended by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers.

A lawmaker told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the government had assured them that Rs100 million will be given to each opposition MPA in development funds while each female MPA and each minority MPA will be given Rs25 million in funds which will be released within two days.

“The funds will be released within two days well before the assembly session which is scheduled for 24th,” he said, adding that the CM also agreed to recruit class four employees on the recommendations of local MPAs.

In return the opposition MPAs agreed to sign the letter to be sent to the federal government and help pass a resolution from the assembly.

Provincial cabinet members Atif Khan, Shahram Tarakai, Taimur Salim Jhagra, Shaukat Yousafzai, Akbar Ayub while opposition members Khushdil Khan, Mahmood Batani, Aurangzaib Nalotha, Mir Kalam Khan, Mian Nisar Gul, Shafiq Afridi, Neghat Orakzai and Sobia Khan attended the meeting.

Matters of the province related to the federation especially nonpayment of development funds for merged areas and arrears of net hydel profit (NHP) were discussed in detail during the meeting.

The forum agreed to the fact that non-compliance of the commitments made by the federal government regarding provision of development funds for the current fiscal year is badly affecting the development programs of the province especially in merged areas which is unacceptable.

Talking on the occasion, the chief minister regretted that the federal government is reluctant to provide development funds for NMDs as per its commitment which is sheer injustice to the people of merged areas.

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

He said that his government believes in investment in human capital, adding that despite difficult financial situation, his government has undertaken various uplift projects in different sectors to materialize its vision of uniform development across the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2022.