PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments have agreed to a framework to resolve the issues related to the development funds of the province and its integrated tribal districts, said Finance Mozam Aslam’s chief minister on Wednesday.
Addressing a news conference here, Mr. Aslam said that the Chief Minister took up the meeting with Federal Planning and Development Minister Ehsan Iqbal, taking up the issues related to the integrated tribal districts, including the delay in the release of funds for the rapid implementation program.
“We [centre and KP] He said that the province has agreed to a framework to resolve the province by exchanging information with the federal government.
Minister Iqbal, who was also present on the occasion, said that he discussed issues related to the development of the province with the Chief Minister and his assistant with finances, and the two sides agreed to resolve the issues through a joint procedure.
Gandpur delays the release of AIP funds with Federal Minister Iqbal
He said that the federal government would support the provincial government’s development program in all the etiquette.
“Although we are politically removed, we both work for the interests of the state,” he said.
The Federal Minister said that the interests of both KP and federal governments are linked to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.
He said that talks with the provincial government were fruitful as he discussed issues with the Chief Minister and his team.
“Experts from both the province and the center will sit together to combine their priorities, and the Pakistan move has been described with five ES,” he said.
Mr Iqbal said that KP has great potential in tourism and mining, and it was the gateway to the Central Asian markets.
He said that the federal government has once again placed the economy on the track in a short time, indicating the leading global credit rating firm Moody to transform Pakistani banks’ perspective from stable to positive.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Aslam’s assistant said that the federal government’s development priorities are already associated with the Uran Pakistan program.
However, he said it was very important for the problems of economic indicators in the life of the common man.
He said, “During the meeting, our Chief Minister emphasized the review of the National Finance Commission Award so that the province could get its share as a result of the increase in population after FATA integration.”
Mr Aslam also said that the Chief Minister highlighted the issue of maximum harmony in eliminating tax exemptions for tribal districts and Malakand Division.
According to an official statement, a consultative workshop on the Chief Minister’s house was organized on the national economic change project 29-2025 (Uran Pakistan).
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandpur was the guest of honor in the program, attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Aamir Muzam, provincial cabinet members, parliamentarians, and senior officials of both provincial and federal governments.
The Uran Pakistan program focuses on the country’s sustainable economic development, such as exports, equity, e Pakistan, energy and infrastructure and the five major areas of climate change.
Mr Gandpur said that KP Uran is moving forward with Pakistan.
Despite political differences, we are determined to contribute to Pakistan’s economic development. These differences will not stop us from working for Pakistan’s stability and economic progress.
The Chief Minister said that the establishment of law and order is the most important, as it laid the foundation for development.
He added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has played a significant role in the development of Pakistan and will continue to do so.
Mr Gandapur said that in the first six months of this fiscal year, the province received extra money in a budget of Rs 169 billion and set up a loan management of Rs 70 billion.
He added that the province has successfully met the IMF’s target, while investing in the productive sectors was observed.
The Chief Minister said that associated with the European Pakistan program, has already made significant progress, and this province will guide it across the country.
Highlighting the major steps of the provincial government, he said that Rs 15 billion has been obtained for industrial areas.
Mr Gandapur said that under the Insurance Rosegor scheme, loans of Rs 200 million were provided to the businessmen, which created employment opportunities for more than 137,000 people.
He said that for the timely completion of development projects in the tribal districts, the rest of the funds should be released on an emergency basis.
“Under the PSDP, out of the Rs 36 billion allocated for seven projects in the province, only Rs 2.65 billion has been allocated, while only Rs 1 billion has been released so far. Although new projects have been shown for other PSDP provinces, no new project has been given to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Chief Minister said that compared to other provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has received a small share of PSDP funds against Sindh 49.2 billion in Sindh, Rs 7.1 billion in Punjab and Rs 23.81 billion in Balochistan.
He called for the province to allocate PSDP funds and timely release of funds for the completion of PSDP projects.
Mr Gandapur also said that the Chashma Wright Bank Canal Project, which was very important for the protection of the province’s food, had neither received proper funds nor the integrated canals.
He said that although Rs 17.51 ​​billion has been allocated for the project in the current financial year, no funds have been released so far.
“Our government will cooperate with its resources for Rs 60 billion for this project, in which Rs 500 million has already been released for the desired land,” he said.
The Chief Minister complained that details of the alignment of the project were not shared with the province by the Center, and that the timelines agreed for their activities by WAPDA was not implemented.
He also said that the federal government has promised to allocate Rs 17.5 billion for the project but only Rs 25.5 billion was allocated in the current PSDP, and even the amount was not released.
Mr Gandapur announced his support for his government for the Uran Pakistan Development Agenda, demanding equal investment and financial support along with the province.
Dawn, appeared on March 13, 2025
