K-P to challenge taxes, power crisis

Province to write Centre over merged districts levies and load-shedding

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians and senior party leaders at the Chief Minister's House to address growing grievances against the federal government.

The meeting conducted a detailed review of the federal government's recent decision to impose new taxes in the merged districts (formerly FATA) and ex-PATA regions, alongside persistent issues of prolonged unscheduled electricity load-shedding and low voltage across the province.

Participants expressed serious concern over what they termed the federal government's move to extend taxation to these areas, describing it as a breach of earlier commitments. They also highlighted the severe hardships faced by citizens due to frequent, unannounced power outages, particularly during the peak summer season.

The forum resolved to vigorously pursue these matters with the federal government through all available institutional and constitutional channels. As an immediate step, the provincial government will send an official letter formally conveying its reservations regarding the new taxes and electricity-related problems.

Afridi directed officials to convene a joint meeting of PESCO, TESCO, and HESCO to find urgent solutions to the ongoing load-shedding and voltage fluctuations affecting consumers province-wide.

Speaking at the meeting, CM Afridi said the Center was attempting to further marginalize the merged districts. "After withholding their due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP), and budgetary allocations, the imposition of additional taxes is another blow," he remarked.

He reminded the federal government of its clear commitment that no taxes would be levied on the merged districts until they achieved development parity with the rest of the country. "This recent action is a clear backtracking from that pledge," Afridi added.

Members of the delegation described the taxation decision as "unjust and unacceptable" to the people of the region. They also pointed out the irony of K-P being a major electricity producer while continuing to suffer extended power outages.