The Prime Minister of Finance Mozamil Aslam said that the government of Khyber Bakhtonguhua (KP) and the federal authorities agreed on a framework to confront delay in the development funds, especially those devoted to the integrated tribal areas in the province.
Speaking at a press conference, Aslam said that Prime Minister Ali Amin Gandabur raised concerns about the delay in the release of the funds of the accelerated implementation program (AIP) during a meeting with the Minister of Planning and Federal Development the best turnout. The two sides agreed to create a common mechanism to solve the problem, as the KP government provides relevant data for federal authorities.
Discussions that are in line with the National Economic Transformation Plan 2029-2025 (Uraan Pakistan), which focuses on five main sectors: exports, stocks, e-Pakistan, energy, infrastructure, and climate change.
Minister Iqbal, who was also present, confirmed that the discussions with the KP leadership were fruitful and that the federal government will fully support the development agenda in the province despite the political differences. He stressed that both departments are committed to ensuring stability and economic growth.
Gandabur repeated KP’s commitment to the initiative, saying that political differences will not hinder boycott contributions to national development. He stressed the economic progress of the boycott, and revealed a budget surplus of 169 billion rupees and the establishment of a debt management fund worth 70 billion rupees in the first half of the fiscal year.
It also highlighted private sector investments of 15 billion rupees in industrial areas and 200 million rupees in the loans submitted by the Insaf Rozgar scheme, which has achieved more than 137,000 jobs.
Gandabur criticized the federal government for what he described as an unfair distribution of the public sector development program (PSDP). He pointed out that among the 36 billion rupees for seven projects in KP, only 2.65 billion rupees were allocated, with only 1 billion rupees. In comparison, the bond received 49.2 billion rupees, Punjab 7.1 billion, and Baluchistan 23.81 billion rupees.
He also stressed the importance of the right bank channel project in Chashma Dietary Security for the province, saying that although 17.51 billion rupees were allocated in the current budget, no money has been spent. He said that the KP government committed 60 billion rupees for the project, as 500 million rupees were already released to gain land.
The Prime Minister urged the federal government to increase the PSDP allocations for KP and ensure timely relevant boxes for continuous projects.
