No funds for Centre sans Imran meeting, says minister

MARDAN:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan on Tuesday reiterated the provincial government's stance that funds would not be released to the federal government without consultation with the party's founding chairman Imran Khan.

He added that during the K-P Assembly's budget session last week, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had also made it clear that any decision regarding additional funds for the federal government would be taken by Imran Khan.

"We had made it clear during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting that the decision regarding provision of additional funds to the federal government will be made by PTI founder Imran Khan - the last authority to approve it," the chief minister had told the house.

The K-P information minister was addressing the media, after administering oath to the newly elected cabinet members of Mardan Press Club. He said the federal government owed trillions of rupees to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

He further said that Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi remains continuously among the people, unlike situation in Punjab.

He added that conditions in South Punjab are concerning and Lahore cannot represent the entire province. He also alleged corruption in "Suthra Punjab" project, claiming irregularities worth billions in Faisalabad.