Amjad Hadi Yousafzai
Peshawar:
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session, chaired by Babar Saleem Swati, commenced in Peshawar, with discussions on the NFC Award, arrears of merged districts, provincial resources, and other key matters. At the start of the session, the Speaker suspended today’s agenda and announced that resolutions would be considered at the end. Member Ahmed Kundi requested that the NFC Award be discussed today, to which the Speaker confirmed that the agenda was suspended, but resolutions would be addressed later.
Assembly member Abdul Karim highlighted that according to the 2010 census, the country’s population was 132.3 million, which has increased to 250 million by 2023, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share remains only 26 percent. He criticized the federal government for not releasing the province’s hydropower arrears and for the continued inequitable allocation of provincial resources.
During a joint press conference of PTI and other opposition parties, Meena Khan Afridi stated that the NFC session on December 4 would present Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s claim effectively. She added that the province’s share is 14.62 percent, which must be ensured for the benefit of its 4.5 million residents. Arbab Usman of ANP said that provincial resources should remain with the province and that the provincial government would secure its rightful share. PPP Parliamentary Leader Ahmed Kundi emphasized protecting the province’s rights and securing outstanding federal dues.
The Speaker questioned government member Sajad Barkwal about the definition of the State, to which he responded that allocations in the NFC are determined by the State and influenced by powerful circles. Ahmed Kundi, citing Article 7 of the Constitution, clarified that elected institutions represent the real State. Special Assistant on Information Shafee Jan noted that despite the merger of FATA after the 25th amendment, the province has received only 13 billion PKR out of the promised 70 billion PKR for the merged districts.
PPP’s Ahmed Kundi presented a resolution honoring the political, democratic, and national services of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, recommending that he be recognized as a national martyr at the official level; the resolution was passed unanimously. Another resolution was presented to maintain the tobacco quota for District Buner to protect farmers’ livelihoods and provincial revenue. ANP member Nisar Baz raised a resolution addressing the misuse of Sections 3 and 16 of the MPO, protecting political and social workers from arbitrary actions. A resolution was also passed regarding the creation of Hazara Province, urging the federal government to initiate the constitutional process immediately.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly adopted a unanimous stance on provincial rights, federal arrears, and issues concerning merged districts. The Speaker urged all members to act in accordance with the Constitution and law to safeguard the rights of the province’s citizens.
Leave a Reply