K-P is rich in minerals; we will 'extract and sell them', says Kundi

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday said the province’s mineral resources would be extracted and sold to promote economic prosperity, urging domestic and foreign companies to invest in the sector through joint ventures to generate employment and support local businesses.

“Our province is rich in minerals, and we will extract and sell these minerals. We will have many agreements signed so that people can prosper,” said Kundi while addressing the media during a convocation ceremony held in Peshawar.

The governor defended the proposed exploitation of the province’s mineral resources, arguing that investment in the sector could generate employment, support local businesses and improve economic conditions.

“If an international company comes and enters into a joint venture with Pakistani companies and the people of K-P, providing them with employment and economic support, why are you speaking against this?” he probed.

Kundi invited foreign and domestic companies to invest in the province.

“K-P is rich in mineral resources, and we look forward to pursuing joint ventures to develop them,” the governor highlighted. He further added that oil and gas reserves should also be extracted to support economic growth.

He argued that economic prosperity and access to education would make communities less vulnerable to extremist narratives. He also criticised clerics who, he alleged, encouraged poor families to send their children to fight while remaining comfortable themselves.

Kundi assailed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his stance against the governor’s rule in the province, saying the government had been formed without his support and would continue to function successfully.

Kundi questions Fazl’s stance on K-P governor’s rule

Taking a jibe at the JUI-F chief, Governor Kundi said, “Maulana himself used to say — I have heard him say — that no government could be formed without him, and that if one were formed, it would not be able to function. By the grace of Allah Almighty, it has been formed without you; it will function and succeed.”

Expressing disappointment over the JUI-F chief’s recent speech, Kundi said Fazl had himself raised concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in K-P and the provincial government’s failure to address it.

“He says that imposing governor’s rule in K-P is wrong, then why did he complain that he could no longer move around the province and that the provincial government had failed to maintain law and order?” he questioned Fazl.

Read: Fazl draws ire over K-P governor's rule remarks

In a pointed criticism of JUI-F’s chief, the governor questioned what he described as inconsistencies in Fazl’s political positions.

“If imposing governor’s rule is haram [forbidden], then was supporting the Legal Framework Order (LFO) of 1970 halal? Was taking land from the army halal?” he threw a number of questions at Fazl. Referring to Dera Ismail Khan, he alleged that land belonging to martyrs had been allocated to Fazl as well.

“Whatever comes to you is halal, while whatever goes to others is haram?”

The governor then asked the JUI-F chief to compare the situation in K-P with that in Balochistan, where, he said, the provincial government and its chief minister were working alongside state institutions in the fight against terrorism.

He said Balochistan was facing the threat posed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), while K-P was confronting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terror outfits.

Criticising the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led provincial government, Kundi alleged that it lacked effective authority and that its decisions were being made in Kabul, Jalalabad and Kandahar rather than Islamabad.

He even suggested that they were still receiving directions from fugitives based across the border.

Read more: Sanaullah links reversal of K-P governor's rule to PTI support for counterterrorism efforts

“How long will we continue fighting wars? How long will our people continue fighting terrorism? Our people need peace. They need prosperity. They need development,” he added.

Softening his approach towards the JUI-F chief, Kundi invited Fazl to work with the government to promote peace, development and prosperity in the province, saying political differences should not obstruct efforts to improve the lives of the people.

He said he supported democracy and acknowledged the JUI-F chief’s efforts in this regard, but criticised his political alliances, alleging that the party had joined hands with people responsible for damaging the province.

The governor concluded by saying that he would support those who worked to establish peace, advance development and ensure prosperity for the people of K-P.