Afghan instability directly affects K-P: Gandapur

CM says centre has agreed with his proposal of dialogue with Kabul for sustainable solution

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that instability in Afghanistan is adversely affecting the peace and order in the province. He emphasised that sustainable peace requires dialogue with Kabul.

“Our armed forces, police, and people have made enormous sacrifices to root out terrorism. We salute the martyrs who laid down their lives for peace,” he said, adding, “For a long-term solution, negotiations with Afghanistan are necessary, and it is encouraging that the federal government has agreed with my proposal in this regard.”

He expressed these views while addressing the participants from the 26th National Security and War Course under the National Defence University, which visited the Chief Minister’s House, Peshawar, on Friday.

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Acting Inspector General of Police, along with senior officials of the Planning & Development and Finance Departments, also attended the meeting. During the interaction, the delegation was briefed on provincial administration, financial management, development programmes, and security measures.

Highlighting the province’s challenges and opportunities, Gandapur said, “K-P is rich in natural resources but past governments failed to utilise them effectively. When we assumed office, the province was in the grip of severe financial and security challenges. From day one, we adopted a model of economic self-reliance and invested heavily in sectors with strong growth potential.”

The chief minister said the provincial government, through strict fiscal discipline, has generated billions of rupees in additional revenue over the last 19 months. He underscored K-P’s immense hydropower capacity, noting that the government is working to harness this energy for industrial development.

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A dedicated provincial transmission line is also being laid to supply affordable electricity to industries, aimed at generating new jobs. Additionally, efforts are underway to explore oil and gas reserves for sustainable industrial growth.

On tourism, Gandapur pointed out that the sector offers vast opportunities to enhance provincial revenue. Work is in progress to establish integrated tourism zones of international standards. For rural employment, he said, livestock and agriculture have been prioritised, and for the first time, a Mountain Agriculture Policy has been introduced to strengthen farming in hilly regions.

Emphasising governance reforms, the chief minister said, transparency and service delivery remain top priorities. “We are effectively using information and communication technology, and 29 sectors have already been digitalised, with more in progress,” he said.

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On the question of Afghan refugees, Gandapur noted that K-P has hosted them for decades, but their repatriation is a federal matter. He, however, stressed that the process must be carried out with dignity and care.

Regarding the merged districts, he said promises made during their integration into K-P remain unfulfilled. He reiterated the demand for a new NFC Award to ensure the province receives its rightful share of resources.

Outlining public welfare initiatives, Gandapur said that 100 per cent of the province’s population has been provided with the Sehat Card – a health insurance for free medical treatment.

He added that interest-free loans are being extended to citizens for home construction, while Rs14 billion programme has been launched to support youth with startup businesses and technical trainings.