ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi amid widespread media reports suggesting the governor’s possible removal. According to the PM Office, the meeting focused on political and administrative matters concerning KP, including discussions on the potential imposition of governor’s rule.
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A source within the PM Office said the prime minister expressed full confidence in Governor Kundi, signalling that the federal government has no plans to remove him. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam and Federal Minister for Public Affairs Unit Rana Mubashir Iqbal. Earlier this week, Kundi had denied reports about his removal but stated he would respect whatever decision the PPP leadership made.
The possibility of governor’s rule reportedly arose due to tensions between the Centre and KP’s recently elected Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who has taken a firm stance against federal authorities, the armed forces and the bureaucracy. During the meeting, Governor Kundi urged the prime minister to ensure KP receives its fair share in the upcoming National Finance Commission award.
In a separate meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed ministries to fast-track efforts to integrate private-sector proposals into a unified industrial policy. He said the government was committed to translating expert recommendations into swift and practical reforms. Welcoming input from business leaders, the PM emphasised that an implementation plan would be developed after consolidating proposals from all economic sectors.
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The session on industrial development was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Advisor Muhammad Ali, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and members of the Industrial Working Group led by Saqib Shirazi.