PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has strongly condemned the federal government for delaying development funds for the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The statement came during a video link meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, attended by the Advisor on Finance, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, and officials from the Finance and Planning Departments.
District Development Plan (DDP) and District Development Initiative (DDI), focusing on ongoing development projects at the district level, financial and physical progress, and other related issues were reviewed during the meeting. Officials briefed the Chief Minister on various aspects of the projects included in these programs.
CM Gandapur ordered officials to release the necessary funds on time to complete the development projects under these schemes.
Referring to the rapid development program in the amalgamated districts, the meeting took a key decision in principle to release Rs 1.2 billion as bridge funds for accelerating ongoing projects under the Annual Development Plan (AIP).
CM Gandapur complained about the procrastination of the federal government in releasing AIP funds and urged the federal authorities to make timely and full funding for development schemes under AIP available.
He emphasized that the financing of development projects in the merged districts is a federal obligation, which is currently not being fulfilled. Postponements in the completion of the development work have brought trouble to the local population.
To ascertain the situation, the provincial government is using its own resources for the funding of development projects in the merged districts, but unrelenting neglect on the part of the federal government is worsening the issues.
For addressing these matters, the KP government has planned to formulate a strategy in consultation with the province’s elected representatives of the merged districts.
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CM Gandapur also made it clear that transparency, merit, and work quality will not be compromised in development schemes and artificial delays will not be tolerated. Authorities were directed to complete projects within time without compromising on standards.
