Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur issued a firm ultimatum to the federal government, demanding talks within 15 days to address critical issues plaguing the province, such as outstanding payments and persistent power outages.
In a passionate address at the K-P Assembly, Gandapur expressed frustration over the significant reduction of K-P’s funds by Rs300 billion this fiscal year. Despite this setback, the province is still required to pay Rs96 billion in surplus to the federal government, as mandated by IMF conditions, a burden Gandapur vowed to meet by June 30.
He criticized other provinces for not adhering to regulations and asserted K-P’s right to receive Rs50 billion in funds within the next two months, insisting on prompt fulfillment of this obligation.
Gandapur warned of severe consequences if the federal government fails to provide a concrete timeline for resolving key issues, including overdue payments, power shortages, and special allocations for tribal areas.
Regarding outstanding electricity payments, Gandapur blamed the federal government for exacerbating the economic situation, leading to K-P residents’ inability to pay Rs120 billion in bills. He emphasized his determination to prevent electricity disconnections throughout the province and threatened to take over the office of any negligent Wapda officer.
The chief minister also pledged to protect citizens’ rights, promising legal action against those withholding dues and announcing plans to enhance health insurance coverage and combat illegal recruitment.
Gandapur assured the implementation of technical education programs to create job opportunities and affirmed the completion of development projects in designated constituencies.
