Amjad Hadi Yousafzai
PESHAWAR : The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly approved the Rs2.17 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 by majority vote. The budget session was marked by intense sloganeering, protests, and disorder between treasury and opposition members, while Speaker Babar Saleem Swati used his constitutional authority to dispose of cut motions.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi received a warm welcome from government lawmakers upon entering the assembly hall, with members thumping desks in his honor. During the session, opposition legislators staged a protest in front of the Speaker’s dais, while tensions further escalated when the Chief Minister’s security aide, Arif Khattak, raised slogans in support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Addressing the budget session, Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah said that lawmakers are usually pleased when a budget is passed, but no one appeared satisfied on this occasion. He described the budget as unfair to the province and argued that the government lacked a clear roadmap for development. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa possesses immense potential in hydropower generation and tourism, but these opportunities remain underutilized due to poor planning and a lack of vision.
Dr. Ibadullah urged the government to prioritize projects that are more than 90 percent complete and ensure the completion of delayed schemes in the health and education sectors. He also accused the government of limiting debate on the budget and disregarding parliamentary traditions.
In his speech, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi criticized the federal government, claiming that Rs4.758 trillion in provincial dues had been withheld, creating financial difficulties for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the federal government lacked a clear strategy for improving tax collection and strengthening the economy, while the country continued to face a growing trade deficit and mounting debt.
The Chief Minister said his government was focused on investing in public welfare and human development. He announced that special free cards would be provided to men and women above the age of 60, while roads, hospitals, and schools in the merged districts would receive priority attention. He also pledged to accelerate projects related to irrigation, clean drinking water, and other essential public services across the province.
Afridi further stated that delays in the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a Chinese company had slowed progress on a proposed dam project in Swat. He assured the assembly that he would personally oversee all development projects from July onward to ensure their timely completion.
Meanwhile, a scuffle broke out between assembly security personnel and PTI workers within the assembly premises. The situation was later defused after Provincial Minister Meena Khan intervened.
With the budget’s approval, the way has been cleared for development and administrative expenditures during the 2026-27 fiscal year. However, the heated exchanges and political tensions witnessed in the assembly underscored the continuing divide between the government and the opposition.
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