Business Recorder
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, during his visit to the merged district of Bajaur, met with leaders of a Qaumi Aman Jirga and subsequently addressed a large Peace Jirga at the Bajaur Sports Complex. He spoke about the provincial government’s position on peace, development, public rights, and governance. He thanked tribal elders, community leaders, political and religious representatives, and youth participants for their engagement, and paid tribute to the role of tribal leadership in efforts toward restoration of peace. He acknowledged that the manner in which local stakeholders managed difficult conditions reflects maturity and commitment towards establishment of sustainable peace. He emphasised that peace remains the foremost and indispensable prerequisite for development and prosperity. The provincial government, he stated, is actively working toward ensuring sustainable peace through inclusive engagement with all stakeholders. He highlighted that all political parties and schools of thought had jointly endorsed a unanimous declaration in the Provincial Assembly stating that military operations are not a solution for establishment of sustainable peace in the province. The Chief Minister observed that conflict and war have yielded no benefit to the region, instead, they have resulted in destruction of infrastructure, weakening of institutions, and loss of an entire generation of youth. He noted that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially the merged districts have endured extensive suffering due to operations, drone strikes, and aerial bombardment, including thousands of funerals and mass displacement of populations, yet durable peace has not been achieved. He stressed that such a situation cannot be sustained again, and that every effort must be made to avoid a relapse into instability. He further stated that multiple operations have been witnessed over time, and despite 22 major and approximately 16,000 intelligence-based operations, peace is yet to be restored, reinforcing the need for a shift in policy direction. He stated that the merged districts are not being given their due rights and that their NFC share is being distributed to other provinces, terming the situation regrettable. He added that on one hand resources are not being provided, while on the other, conditions on the ground are being further worsened. He stated that instead of providing relief, the public is being burdened further, while national resources are being spent on personal luxuries. He questioned what fault the poor people have committed and why they are being made to suffer. The Chief Minister underscored that natural resources of the province belong to its people and future generations, and that these rights cannot be compromised. He affirmed that the government will pursue all necessary measures to secure these rights. Announcing a major development initiative, Afridi stated that a comprehensive package of Rs 1 trillion is being introduced for the merged districts, with Rs 400 billion allocated to the health and education sectors, alongside coverage of other critical development needs. For Bajaur specifically, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of a university campus, connectivity with the Dir and Swat Motorways, and the operationalization of the Bajaur Nursing College, which has remained non-functional since 2007. He further announced that all demands presented in the Jirga’s memorandum have been accepted. He assured that public funds, derived from taxpayers, will be spent on public welfare and that there will be no compromise on development delivery. Calling for unity, the Chief Minister stated that peace and prosperity require collective effort beyond political affiliations. He urged the public to stand for peace, assuring that the responsibility for development and prosperity will be undertaken by the government, and reaffirmed his personal commitment to stand with the people under all circumstances. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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