Federal Apex Committee Meets After Governor Rule; PM Discloses Rs 800bn Given to KP Since 2010
Federal Apex Committee Meets After Governor Rule; PM Discloses Rs 800bn Given to KP Since 2010
Shehbaz Sharif says federation and military leadership will jointly restore peace in KP; deplores rise in terrorism despite huge funds
By Irfan Tariq
PESHAWAR, Oct 22
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has vowed that the federal government, in collaboration with the military leadership, will resolve the issues of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and restore peace and prosperity in the province.
The Prime Minister expressed these views while presiding over a special meeting of the Federal Apex Committee of the National Action Plan at the Governor House, Peshawar on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Mohsin Naqvi, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Engineer Amir Muqam, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Attaullah Tarar, Sardar Awais Leghari, Advisor Rana Sanaullah, senior military leadership and high officials.
PM Briefed on Emergency in 12 Districts
The Prime Minister was given a detailed briefing on the imposition of emergency in 12 districts of the province. The meeting paid rich tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for peace in KP.
Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister said that KP is a beautiful province of brave and honourable people. It is the province of Rahman Baba and Khushal Khan Khattak which decided with a huge majority to join Pakistan at the time of independence.
He said the province is currently badly affected by terrorism and lack of basic amenities. The people of KP are facing deprivation and the government had to impose emergency and Governor Rule in the province under compulsion.
800 Billion Rupees Disclosed
Referring to the NFC Award of 2010, the PM said all provinces had agreed to give one percent additional funds from their shares to KP as it was the frontline province in the war against terrorism.
“Since 2010, Rs 800 billion have been given to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under NFC Award for anti-terrorism. It is regrettable that instead of ending, terrorism has resurfaced,” he said.
He said that due to sacrifices of security forces, complete peace was established by 2018, but during the PTI era terrorists were brought back and all sacrifices were wasted. 80,000 people were martyred in the war on terror.
Questions on 13-year Governance
The Prime Minister questioned the 13-year governance of the previous provincial government. He said 5,000 posts of police were not recruited, the Safe City Project is still incomplete, and no attention was paid to training of CTD and police.
He also cited mega corruption scandals including Rs 100 billion in clean drinking water project, Rs 37 billion Kohistan scandal and award of contracts to favourites in placer gold project.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that establishment of law and order is the top priority and the people of KP want peace. He thanked the federation for its cooperation.
The PM concluded that a consultative council comprising honest and capable experts has been formed to devise a workable strategy for peace and development in KP
