Daily Times

In a press conference held on Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan presented a 13-point reforms agenda regarding development progammes in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, besides making announcements regarding certain changes in the local government. Khan claimed that the changes introduced by the PTI included a few that had not been implemented in any province before. Furthermore, he has also announced to end the process of discretionary funds in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that the members of the provincial assembly will not be given development funds after the implementation of the reforms, while local government representatives will be given more powers for development at grassroots level. Khan further added that an MPA’s job is to ensure proper legislation. A sum of Rs 33 billion will be handed over to local government representatives through the provincial finance commission as per requirement.

This is not the first time that Mr Khan has presented such an agenda, vowing to make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a model province, but this time around, the PTI would have to sincerely work to implement its agenda in full and ensure results as there are only less than two years left until the next general elections. Moreover, the recent performance of the party in the recently held Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) elections, as well as local body elections elsewhere in the country, speaks volumes of where the PTI stands at the moment. Mr Khan cannot afford to merely issue deadlines and ultimatums anymore. It would eventually be his party’s performance in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that could increase its outreach and appeal to the masses.

Some of PTI government’s initiatives in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa need to be lauded. These include reforms in local bodies, efforts for de-politicisation of police, focus on health, education and environmental issues. For the first time in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, village councils have been elected, and are being given complete financial discretionary powers. Furthermore, the Police Act that will be presented in the provincial assembly soon is touted to include much-needed reforms for the department. Furthermore, the allocations for health, education and environment have also seen a significant increase during the tenure of the current government. The Billion-Tree Tsunami project deserves special appreciation. The project also led the federal government to follow suit by allocating funds for planting 100 million trees across the country.

The PTI government focused on developing the province as promised before the 2013 general elections reiterates its commitment to fulfil its electoral promises. Continuous presentation of agendas without implementation would further promote an image of mere rhetoric in the minds of the masses, and the 2018 general elections would present a golden opportunity to the PTI to show the entire country of its sincerity towards the development of Pakistan. There is not much time left to make empty promises, and the PTI should focus on making the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa an example of good governance for the rest of the country. People prefer to vote for a party that they believe will work for their welfare. With the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in the centre as well as in Punjab, the results of local body elections as well as in the AJK are a manifestation of this. *