CHARSADDA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said the decision to impose governor’s rule was a difficult one, saying ‘fight against terrorism is on top’.
Speaking to the media at Wali Bagh, Kundi said the province was ahead with major challenges and stressed the need for collective efforts to restore peace and promote development. He said the Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had governed the province from 2008 to 2013, during which, according to him, peace was restored.
During his visit to Wali Bagh, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi met with ANP Central President Senator Aimal Wali Khan. They discussed the issues being faced by the province, the security situation, and other important matters in detail.
The ANP Secretary General Dr. Muhammad Saleem Khan, Central Secretary Foreign Affairs Sardar Hussain Babak, Provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain, General Secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai, Provincial Spokesperson Arsalan Khan Nazim and District Charsadda President Shakeel Bashir Khan were also present on the occasion.
Mr Kundi said that the situation that had developed in the province since 2013 was evident to everyone. The governor said efforts had been underway for the past 13 years to ensure that the province’s case was presented effectively. He said he had come to discuss provincial issues collectively and engage with Islamabad through dialogue.
“In the past, discussions with Islamabad would be overshadowed by abusive language on the part of PTI,” Kundi said, adding that the province’s issues and demands would now be presented properly. He described the current situation as an important opportunity to discuss the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and other major issues facing the province.
Kundi said the provincial government did not want confrontation with the federal government and instead wanted peace, development and prosperity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said it was time for the province to be recognised for peace rather than terrorism and extremism. He added that he wanted people abroad to ask residents of the province about peace instead of terrorism.
The governor said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was rich in natural gas, minerals, tourism potential and tobacco, among other resources. He stressed the need to utilise these resources to create opportunities for development and prosperity. He called for joint efforts to address the province’s challenges and improve conditions for its people.
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