TIMES REPORT
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, called upon the provincial leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to urgently prioritize short-term, public welfare-oriented initiatives, asserting that local residents have suffered years of developmental neglect.
Addressing a gathering of the PML-N KP chapter, the prime minister criticized the past PTI-led administration’s governance record, saying that despite tall claims of revolutionary reforms in the education and health sectors, citizens continued to yearn for basic facilities.
He regretted that PTI’s political focus was diverted toward protests and sit-ins rather than addressing the socio-economic needs of the province. “How many development projects were completed? Were public funds spent judiciously, and what steps were taken against corruption?” the prime minister questioned, raising concerns over transparency and the execution of past provincial policies.
Turning to national security, the prime minister paid rich tribute to the immense sacrifices rendered by the residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, law enforcement agencies, and the armed forces in eradicating terrorism during the 2017–2018 period.
He noted that the country lost approximately 80,000 precious lives, with economic losses mounting between $150 billion and $200 billion in the long fight against terrorism. He specifically recalled the tragic attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar as an unforgettable manifestation of barbarism, while also acknowledging the sacrifices borne by political figures and security personnel.
Reflecting on past political and economic milestones, the prime minister criticized the 2014 PTI’s sit-ins, noting that they coincided with and delayed the historic visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He contrasted this with the subsequent signing of major bilateral agreements in 2015 and the eventual elimination of crippling, hours-long load-shedding under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.
Furthermore, the prime minister expressed deep concern over security challenges witnessed in subsequent years, emphasizing the need for sustained vigilance, economic uplift, and grassroots development to deliver tangible relief to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
About Governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), he described the measure as an unavoidable step to protect the state, economy, and the welfare of the provincial populace.
Addressing party leaders, the prime minister pointed back to the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award—concluded under then-Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with unanimous consensus from all chief ministers—which allocated a 1 percent financial share directly to KP.
He noted that the province has accrued approximately Rs 800 billion from this arrangement over the years.
Questioning the transparency of fund utilization, the prime minister asked how much of that allocation was genuinely invested into reinforcing the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and local law enforcement.
Had those resources been properly managed, he argued, the provincial police force would have been significantly better equipped to tackle security challenges. About 8,000 police vacancies were lying in the province.
Addressing the broader macroeconomic environment, the prime minister acknowledged that ongoing crises in the Gulf region have driven global energy costs upward. However, he emphasized that the federal government has ensured uninterrupted supplies of petrol and diesel across the country.
He highlighted the launch of a targeted fuel subsidy program in February, backed by a Rs 75 billion allocation, which has successfully delivered relief vouchers to approximately 130 million citizens.
Detailing the breakdown in political negotiations he said, the federal government made concerted efforts to engage the PTI leadership in KP to address pressing national challenges cooperatively. According to the premier, after negotiations led by a joint PML-N and PPP delegation, the finalized draft proposals faced outright delay from Sohail Afridi, leaving them with no alternative course of action.
“We had no other option but to save the country, the economy, the society, and KP,” he warned, stressing that further hesitation would have led to catastrophic outcomes.
The prime minister also outlined ongoing projects to build Daanish Schools across remote districts—including Chitral, Haripur, Mansehra, Bajaur, and Shangla—with plans to announce several additional campuses later in the year.
Earlier, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam, in his remarks, said the PML-N enjoyed a massive public support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as it always overcame challenges.
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