Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi met a federal negotiating team led by Ahsan Iqbal and presented a series of complaints regarding what he described as unfair treatment of the province by the federal government.
During the meeting, the participants discussed a range of intergovernmental matters, including consultation and a meeting with Imran Khan, the upcoming National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, the province’s financial and constitutional rights, development funds for merged districts, energy issues, wheat supply, hydropower projects, and other important matters.
The chief minister told the federal delegation that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been subjected to continuous discriminatory and unjust treatment. He warned that participation in the NEC meeting could become difficult if the province continued to be denied its constitutional and financial rights.
He said consultation with Imran Khan was essential on budget-related decisions and national issues, arguing that political parties traditionally seek guidance from their leadership before making important decisions.
Sohail Afridi stated that the NFC share allocated to the merged districts had been withheld for the past eight years, which he described as unconstitutional and harmful to development and public welfare in those areas.
He also expressed disappointment that meetings with federal representatives had not resulted in solutions and instead led to further grievances for the province.
The chief minister said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would not give up their constitutional rights and urged the federal government to reconsider its approach toward the province.
He also raised concerns regarding obstacles in the supply of wheat from Punjab, the province’s gas rights, and issues related to hydropower projects.
According to him, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces more than 500 MMCFD of gas daily, while provincial consumption is around 150 MMCFD, yet residents continue to face gas shortages and load-shedding. He described the situation as contrary to constitutional requirements and the principle of equitable distribution of resources.
The chief minister further highlighted the case of a completed dam project in Swat, stating that it had not been made operational because Chinese engineers had not been issued the required NOC.
He also noted that a completed bus terminal project remained non-operational due to the absence of an NOC from the National Highway Authority.
He added that if Punjab was unwilling to provide wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, then Articles 151 and 158 of the Constitution should be abolished, arguing that these provisions guarantee interprovincial trade, free movement, and fair utilization of resources.
He stressed that the Constitution should be implemented fully and without discrimination.
The chief minister called on the federal government to ensure the immediate provision of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s constitutional, financial, and developmental rights and to take practical steps to resolve the province’s longstanding issues.
During the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal assured participants that the NOC required for the bus terminal project would be issued within 24 hours.
okay He also pledged to raise the province’s concerns, demands, and issues before the prime minister and other relevant federal forums and to play a role in addressing them.
