PTI censures Gandapur’s alleged exclusion from SIFC meeting

Former ruling party says reported move involves ‘clear malice’

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday censured the government for allegedly excluding Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from an upcoming meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

The former ruling party in post on X stated that there was “clear malice” behind an alleged decision to not invite Gandapur to the “unconstitutional and illegal” SIFC meeting.

“Dozens of government-run motels have already been taken over by military companies through the caretaker military government of K-P,” the PTI said while referring to the caretaker K-P government’s February decision to lease out 17 motels of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation to a military entity for a period of 30 years.

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“It is feared that the purpose of not inviting the K-P CM is to keep secret the plans for further military occupation of the resources of K-P, which is rich in natural resources,” the party alleged.

The PTI maintained that it denounced the reported move, demanding that all details about the performance of “this unconstitutional and fraudulent institution should be made public in a transparent manner”.

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The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) stands as a body constituted by the government in June 2023. Its primary objective is to attract foreign investments and stimulate the nation's economic growth. It boasts a membership that includes the provincial and federal government representatives.

Moreover, the council is managed by an apex committee comprising the prime minister, army chief, chief ministers and other high-ranking government officials. The body’s mission is to seek solutions for economic revival and elevate the Foreign Direct Investment inflows.