CM says federal govt owes Rs4,758bn to KP

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has reiterated that federal government owes Rs.4,758 billion in various heads to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Talking to various delegations comprising tribal elders and community leaders from district Khyber, he highlighting fiscal concerns and stated that an amount of Rs.1,375 billion remains outstanding under the NFC share for the merged districts. He further noted that at the time of merger, the federal government had committed to providing Rs.100 billion annually for merged districts. However, over the past seven years, only Rs 168 billion has been released, leaving PKR 532 billion unpaid. The delegations presented proposals aimed at ensuring sustainable development and long-term prosperity in the district. A comprehensive review of ongoing development initiatives was undertaken, particularly in the sectors of road infrastructure, health, education, employment, and other priority areas. The Chief Minister underscored that alongside political engagement, the provincial government remains steadfast to strengthening governance and accelerating development, with all available resources being directed towards public welfare. He emphasised that while former FATA has been administratively integrated, the financial integration remains incomplete. Under the current NFC framework, resource distribution effectively covers only three and a half provinces, with merged districts not receiving their due constitutional share, a situation which is inconsistent with constitutional principles. The Chief Minister noted that work is ongoing on the Tirah development package in consultation with elected representatives. He claimed that the people of Tirah were forcibly displaced, yet when the provincial government allocated Rs. 4 billion for their welfare. He further stated that tribal areas were deliberately kept underdeveloped in the past, and attempts are still being made by certain elements to deprive them of their rightful share. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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