Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged that the federal government, in coordination with the military leadership, will address the problems facing the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and restore peace, stability and development across the province.
Chairing a meeting of the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan at Governor House in Peshawar on Thursday, the prime minister said the government was committed to improving security, delivering essential public services and ensuring prosperity for the people of the province.
The meeting received a detailed briefing on the imposition of emergency measures in 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Participants also paid tribute to the security personnel and other martyrs who sacrificed their lives for peace in the province.
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PM Shehbaz Highlights Security Challenges in KP
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz described Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a province of brave and resilient people, with a rich cultural and literary heritage associated with prominent poets Rahman Baba and Khushal Khan Khattak.
He said the province had suffered from terrorism and a lack of essential public facilities, leaving many residents facing serious hardships.
The prime minister expressed hope that collective efforts by the federal government, military leadership and other institutions would help restore peace and accelerate development.
He also expressed grief over the deaths of a teacher and children in a school roof collapse in Peshawar. He said he had asked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to visit the affected site immediately and ensure a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy.
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PM Recalls Sacrifices in War Against Terrorism
The prime minister said Pakistan’s armed forces and security institutions had made enormous sacrifices to eliminate terrorism, helping restore peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country by 2018.
He said approximately 80,000 people had lost their lives in the war against terrorism, while the country had suffered economic losses amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars.
Shehbaz Sharif also acknowledged the sacrifices made by families and political figures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying many households had been devastated by violence.
He alleged that the return of militants during the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had undermined the gains achieved through years of sacrifices and contributed to the resurgence of terrorism.
The prime minister criticised the previous provincial government’s performance in education, healthcare, policing and counterterrorism. He said around 5,000 police vacancies had not been filled during the previous provincial administration and that the Safe City project remained incomplete.
He also raised concerns about the training and modernisation of the provincial police and Counter Terrorism Department, arguing that stronger institutional capacity was essential to address the security threat.
Rs800 Billion Allocated for Counterterrorism
Shehbaz Sharif said the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award included an arrangement under which additional resources would be provided to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to support its counterterrorism responsibilities.
According to the prime minister, approximately Rs800 billion had been provided to the province under the NFC framework for counterterrorism since 2010.
He expressed concern that terrorism had resurfaced despite these allocations and stressed the need to strengthen security institutions, provide modern equipment and improve operational capabilities.
The prime minister said the federal government had assured previous PTI-led provincial administrations of its support in counterterrorism efforts.
He added that the federal government had worked over the past two and a half years to stabilise the national economy, with political and military leadership making efforts to improve Pakistan’s economic outlook.
Government Defends Emergency Measures
The prime minister said the federal government had consulted President Asif Ali Zardari twice over the deteriorating situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before taking what he described as difficult decisions.
He said a political committee had also held lengthy negotiations, but the government could not allow continued bloodshed and insecurity in the province.
Shehbaz Sharif maintained that the Constitution and law provided the authority for the steps taken regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He thanked coalition partners, President Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif for their support over the decisions.
The prime minister also announced that a consultative council comprising experts from different fields had been established to help address the province’s longstanding challenges.
He said residents had waited for years for improvements in basic services and deserved access to essential facilities close to their homes.
PM Raises Corruption Allegations
Shehbaz Sharif also criticised the previous provincial administration over alleged corruption and questioned its performance despite promises to eliminate corrupt practices.
He cited allegations involving Rs100 billion in a clean drinking water project and Rs37 billion in the Kohistan mega scandal. He also raised concerns over the awarding of contracts in the Palasir Gold Project.
The allegations were presented by the prime minister during his address.
He said better governance, accountability and effective public service delivery were necessary to restore public confidence and improve conditions in the province.
KP Governor Calls for Federal Support
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said establishing peace and maintaining law and order remained the province’s foremost priorities.
He praised the sacrifices made by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police personnel in efforts to maintain security.
The governor said cooperation between the federal government and provincial institutions was essential for sustainable peace and stability.
He stressed the need to eliminate terrorists, their facilitators and financial supporters, adding that all state institutions must work together to achieve lasting results.
Kundi said the provincial population wanted an environment in which every citizen felt secure and could participate in the development process.
He expressed gratitude for federal assistance and called for a practical strategy to address the province’s security and development challenges.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other federal ministers, senior military officials and representatives of relevant institutions.
