Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Faisal Karim Khan Kundi, voiced the Pakistan Peoples’ Party’s (PPP) concerns about the federal budget, highlighting that the party was not consulted during its preparation.
In a recent informal discussion, he revealed that he had spoken with the Prime Minister about increasing government employees’ salaries.
Additionally, under Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani’s leadership, discussions have been held between the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to address these concerns.
Kundi is hopeful that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will alleviate the PPP’s reservations through mutual understanding.
The KP Governor highlighted the ongoing efforts to establish an industrial zone in Dera Ismail Khan and the approval of an interchange at Paniala, which serves as the tehsil headquarters.
He also mentioned plans to set up a NADRA office in Paniala. Addressing the law and order situation, Kundi emphasized that maintaining peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a priority, particularly after the 18th amendment, which makes it the provincial government’s responsibility.
He criticized the current state of law and order, stating that residents are unable to leave their homes after dark, and called for an in-camera meeting of the provincial assembly to tackle this issue. He noted that there has been no Apex Committee meeting or Provincial Cabinet meeting to address the security situation, which he sees as a sign of the provincial government's incompetence.
He also addressed the persistent issue of load shedding in the province, emphasizing the need for the Chief Minister to take action. If the situation does not improve, Kundi plans to bring the matter to the Prime Minister's attention himself.
On the development front, Kundi expressed his commitment to the progress and peace of Dera Ismail Khan, highlighting the challenges the region faces. He pointed out issues such as the lack of vice chancellors in 26 out of 34 universities and the sale of jobs, even for lower-level positions.
During the wheat procurement campaign, Kundi criticized the provincial government for purchasing wheat from Punjab and accused them of corruption, stating that jobs are being sold. He also highlighted the dire situation in education, noting that 26 out of 34 universities in the province lack vice-chancellors.
Kundi stressed the need for the immediate abolition of taxes on FATA, acknowledging the region's ongoing battle against terrorism and the significant sacrifices its people have made. He argued that maintaining these taxes this year is unjust, given the region's contributions and struggles.
