On Wednesday, adviser to the chief minister on finance Muzzammil Aslam claimed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments had agreed on a framework to tackle development fund difficulties in the province and its amalgamated tribal districts.
Mr. Aslam told a news conference that the chief minister discussed the merged tribal districts with federal planning and development minister Ahsan Iqbal, including the Accelerated Implementation Programme fund delay.
We [centre and KP] have agreed on a framework to handle the concerns, with the province exchanging information with the federal government,” he said.
Minister Iqbal, who was also there, said he addressed province development challenges with the chief minister and his finance aide and pledged to handle them together.
Gandapur discusses AIP fund delay with federal minister Iqbal.
He said the federal government would do all possible to aid the provincial development strategy.
“Though we disagree politically, we both serve the state,” he remarked.
The federal minister said KP and federal interests depended on a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Pakistan.
He stated his discussions with the province chief minister and team were beneficial.
He stated that province and centre experts will meet to align their priorities with the Uraan Pakistan initiative’s five Es.
Mr. Iqbal said KP had tourism and mining potential and was the entrance to Central Asian markets.
He claimed the federal government had quickly revived the economy, causing Moody’s to upgrade Pakistani banks’ outlook from stable to positive.
CM Aslam’s assistant claimed the federal government’s development priorities agreed with Uraan Pakistan.
It was vital for economic indicators to trickle down to the average person, he said.
“During the meeting, our chief minister stressed revising the National Finance Commission Award so the province could receive its share of the Fata merger population increase,” he said.
Mr. Aslam said the chief minister also stressed coordination in eliminating tribal district and Malakand division tax exemptions.
An official statement said the Chief Minister’s House hosted a consultative session on Uraan Pakistan’s National Economic Transformation Plan 29-2025.
The primary guest was primary Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, joined by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Amir Maqam, provincial cabinet members, lawmakers, and senior provincial and federal officials.
Uraan Pakistan prioritises exports, equity, E-Pakistan, energy and infrastructure, and environment and climate change for sustainable economic development.
Mr. Gandapur said KP was pursuing Uraan Pakistan.
“Despite political differences, we want to help Pakistan develop economically. He added these differences won’t stop us from fighting for Pakistan’s stability and economic growth.
The chief minister stressed that law and order underpinned development.
KPK has contributed to Pakistan’s progress and would continue to do so, he said.
Mr. Gandapur said the province had a Rs169 billion budget surplus and a Rs70 billion debt management reserve in the first six months of the current financial year.
He said that the province met the IMF target and saw productive sector investments.
The chief minister stated the province would lead the Uraan Pakistan plan nationwide and that substantial progress had been made.
He announced Rs15 billion in private investment for industrial zones, a key provincial government programme.
Under the Insaf Rozgar Scheme, entrepreneurs received Rs200 million in loans, creating around 137,000 jobs, Mr. Gandapur stated.
He suggested emergency release of remaining monies to complete tribal district development projects.
“Out of Rs36 billion allocated for seven projects in the province, only Rs2.65 billion has been allocated and Rs1 billion released under PSDP. He claimed PSDP has included new projects for other provinces but not Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The chief minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received a lower PSDP allocation compared to Sindh’s Rs49.2 billion, Punjab’s Rs7.1 billion, and Balochistan’s Rs23.81 billion.
He requested more PSDP monies for the province and fast project completion.
Mr. Gandapur also stated the Chashma Right Bank Canal project, vital to the province’s food security, had not received adequate finance or had the connecting canals built.
He claimed the project had been budgeted Rs17.51 billion in the current year but had not been funded.
He stated that his administration will invest Rs60 billion in this project, with Rs500 million already allocated for land.
The chief minister claimed that the central had not shared project alignment details with the province and that Wapda had not followed its timeframes.
He further claimed that the federal government had pledged Rs17.5 billion for the project, but only Rs2.5 billion had been allocated in the PSDP and had not been disbursed.
Mr. Gandapur said his administration supports Uraan Pakistan but wants equal money and investment for the province.
