ISLAMABAD: The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, met with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Mualana Fazlur Rehman at the Mufti Mehmood Centre in Islamabad, where the two leaders discussed the upcoming federal budget and matters related to provincial rights.
According to reports, the two leaders talked about issues of common political interest, which included coordination in working for constitutional and financial rights of the province. They also exchanged views on allocations expected in the forthcoming federal budget and share of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in federal grants.
While talking to the JUI-F chief, CM Afridi showed his reservations about the delay and limitation in provincial allocation under the NFC Award. He also expressed dissatisfaction over the imposition of curbs on the import of wheat from Punjab into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Moreover, he noted that the barriers to natural gas supply to the province are “of high concern,” since despite producing more than 500 MMCFD of gas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is still deprived of its rightful share. The fact that the consumption of gas within the province does not exceed 150 MMCFD makes the situation currently prevailing “unacceptable.”
CM Afridi pointed out that both the federal government and Punjab violate the terms of the constitution, Articles 151 and 158, respectively, thus discriminating against the province.
Representatives from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also took part in the discussion, highlighting the political importance of the event before the budget period.
According to officials, the meeting was one of many political consultations of the opposition with regional stakeholders regarding constitutional issues.
CM Afridi Warns of NEC Boycott, Demands Consultation with Imran Khan
Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi met Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and members of the federal government’s negotiation team to discuss arrangements for a meeting with former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the upcoming National Economic Council (NEC) session, the province’s financial rights, and other matters of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Afridi warned that continued discriminatory treatment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the federal government could make it difficult for the provincial administration to participate in the NEC meeting. He emphasized that consultation with and approval from Imran Khan were essential before making decisions on the federal budget and other issues of national importance.
The chief minister stated that all political parties consult their leadership before taking major national and political decisions, adding that the KP government was following the same democratic and political tradition. He also stressed the need for immediate arrangements to facilitate a meeting with Imran Khan.
Expressing serious concerns over what he described as continuous reductions in the province’s financial allocations, Afridi said that funds earmarked for the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) in the merged districts had been reduced from Rs37 billion to Rs27 billion. He further noted that the development budget for the merged districts under the AIP had been cut from Rs66 billion to Rs56 billion.
According to the chief minister, the merged districts’ share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award has been withheld for the past eight years, which he termed unconstitutional and unfair to the people of the region.
He also complained that meetings with federal representatives have repeatedly failed to resolve outstanding issues and instead resulted in further injustices against the province.
The discussions also covered wheat supplies from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s gas rights, hydropower projects, and other inter-provincial matters. Afridi said the province produces more than 500 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas, while its total consumption stands at only 150 MMCFD. Despite this, he said, residents continue to face severe gas shortages.
The chief minister further highlighted delays in the launch of a completed dam project in Swat, claiming that Chinese engineers have yet to receive the required No Objection Certificate (NOC), causing setbacks in the project’s implementation. He urged the federal government to ensure the protection of the province’s constitutional, financial, and developmental rights.
Referring to wheat supplies, Afridi questioned the practical implementation of Articles 151 and 158 of the Constitution if Punjab refuses to provide wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the Constitution guarantees inter-provincial trade, equitable distribution of resources, and priority rights over locally produced resources.
The chief minister also pointed out that a bus terminal project remains non-operational despite being completed, as the National Highway Authority (NHA) has not yet issued the necessary NOC.
In response, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal assured the provincial leadership that the NOC for the bus terminal would be issued within 24 hours.
Members of the federal government’s negotiation team also assured the chief minister that his concerns, demands, and proposals would be presented before the prime minister and other relevant forums, and that serious efforts would be made to address them.
