Members of the Treasury in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly announced their intention to approve the budget for the current financial year, despite reservations, as most of the funds were utilized during the previous caretaker government’s tenure.
During an assembly session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with their minimal involvement in spending decisions, noting that over Rs1.15 trillion out of Rs1.35 trillion had been spent during the caretaker setup.
Former assembly speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani raised concerns about the budget, stating that it pertained to the unconstitutional caretaker government that exceeded its 90-day mandate. He called for an investigation into the spending and questioned the legality of the schemes approved by the caretaker government.
MPA Laiq Mohammad Khan accused the caretaker government of corruption amounting to Rs11 billion and illegal recruitment of 4,500 individuals. He requested the speaker to defer budget discussions and initiate an investigation into these allegations.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Khan highlighted the federal government’s contribution to KP’s expenditure but noted outstanding dues, including tobacco cess and arrears of hydel power, oil, and gas.
The opposition leader, Dr Ibadullah Khan, emphasized the need for the provincial government to advocate for its funding case with the center and pledged opposition support if the chief executive pursued the matter. He also questioned the allocation and utilization of funds for law and order in the province.
