Afridi seeks timely NFC payment from Centre

Says tourism-led growth will create jobs; warns delays in federal payments are hampering uplift

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has reaffirmed the provincial government's commitment to the development of far-flung and underdeveloped areas, pledging to utilise all available resources to address public hardships and create employment opportunities, particularly through the promotion of tourism.

The chief minister expressed these views during a meeting with former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai. Afridi said the government was taking key steps to promote tourism across the province and would focus on making tourist destinations more attractive to boost visitor inflow and generate livelihoods for local youth.

During the meeting, Yousafzai apprised the chief minister of the longstanding issues faced by Shangla district, including underdevelopment, lack of road access to major tourist spots, and weak infrastructure. He informed Afridi that due to non-availability of development funds since the caretaker setup, several projects in his constituency had remained stalled. As a result, key roads connecting prominent tourist destinations such as Burj Banda, Kafir Banda and Malam Jabba to Shangla remain incomplete, adversely affecting tourism potential and local mobility.

Responding to these concerns, the chief minister assured that the provincial government was determined to develop all tourist destinations across K-P to ensure sustainable local employment for the youth. However, he said the province was facing serious financial challenges due to the federal government's failure to release its due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award in a timely manner.

Afridi disclosed that K-P's outstanding dues from the federal government had reached approximately Rs4.5 trillion, warning that delays in payments were creating multiple challenges for the province. He urged the federal government to acknowledge K-P's difficulties and ensure immediate release of pending dues.

Highlighting security concerns, the chief minister said the provincial government aimed to further strengthen and equip the police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). He paid tribute to the sacrifices of security forces and police personnel in the fight against terrorism.

"Terrorism is our foremost challenge. Without eliminating terrorism, sustainable development is not possible," Afridi said, adding that despite the security situation and lack of cooperation from the federal government, the province's journey towards development was continuing.

He said a comprehensive development package had also been announced for the merged tribal districts, which had suffered disproportionately due to years of militancy.