Daily Times

In a recent appearance on a private TV channel, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Finance Advisor, Muzammil Aslam, expressed strong concerns about the federation’s failure to fulfill its financial commitments to the province.

He stated that the federation owes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa significant amounts, including funds for counter-terrorism efforts, net hydel power, oil and gas royalties, and the promised additional 3 percent for the merger of former FATA regions.

Aslam highlighted that although the federation frequently claims to have allocated 600 billion rupees for counter-terrorism, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has only received 93 billion rupees.

He emphasized that the federation is yet to fulfill its financial promises, leaving the province with a significant shortfall.

“The money for the merged districts, which should be received every three months, has not arrived. We had to spend 40 billion rupees from our own resources,” Aslam stated, adding that the provincial government had already spent 140 billion rupees on policing and 106 billion rupees on the merged districts.

The Finance Advisor pointed out the inequity in the federation’s treatment of the province, accusing the federal government of giving additional financial support to other provinces while neglecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He questioned why Punjab had been receiving benefits despite Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s substantial contributions to the country’s agricultural tax base and its key role in counter-terrorism.

Aslam also criticized the Punjab government for allegedly copying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s successful welfare programs. “Punjab has nothing except TikTok, that is why they are imitating our projects like Ehsaas Apna Ghar, Kamyab Jawan, and Sehat Card. Punjab, tell us one project we have copied,” he said, asserting that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was leading in innovation and governance.

Furthermore, the Finance Advisor raised concerns about the Prime Minister’s attention to flood victims in Sindh and Balochistan, pointing out that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been left out of such initiatives.

“How many times has the Prime Minister come to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa? Are we the only ones left for politics?” Aslam questioned.

Addressing economic concerns, Aslam criticized the sharp rise in interest rates during the tenure of the PDM government, noting that interest rates surged from 11 percent to 22 percent, the highest in Pakistan’s history.

He also questioned the benefits of such high interest rates, which have disproportionately impacted the common man, while the government continues to benefit from borrowing.

In his remarks, Aslam made it clear that the federation’s neglect of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s financial needs and its failure to honor promises are issues that require immediate attention.