KP Cabinet meeting concern over petroleum price-hike approval of key decisions
Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, addressing the 58th meeting of the Provincial Cabinet, said the continued increase in petroleum prices by the federal government was deeply regrettable, placing an additional burden on already struggling low-income households. The repeated increases in petroleum prices, he said, demonstrated that the federal government had no coherent policy.
The Chief Minister said those who had come to power by undermining the public mandate and through “backdoor” means were focused primarily on protecting their own interests, while relief for the people remained outside their priorities. On the one hand, petroleum prices were being repeatedly increased, while on the other, the country was being run through additional debts and continued borrowing. He said Pakistan’s debt had reached Rs43 trillion over 74 years, whereas the present government had increased it to Rs97 trillion within five years. “They have added more debt to Pakistan in five years than was accumulated over the previous 74 years,” he said, adding that the resulting burden will ultimately be borne by the poor.
Sohail Afridi said the poor and middle class were bearing the brunt of the prevailing economic hardships, while even the traditionally self-reliant, white-collar segment was struggling to maintain a dignified standard of living. For many families, even putting two meals on the table had become difficult. Those responsible for “misadventures” in Pakistan, he said, must seriously consider where they were taking the country and its people.
The Chief Minister strongly condemned the recent statement by the Chief Minister of Punjab, saying that placing personal interests above national interests had been their established practice. He said the statement was not merely against a particular province but ran contrary to the national narrative of the State of Pakistan. Such statements, he added, provided space and international traction to India’s anti-Pakistan narrative. He also strongly condemned statements made by certain federal ministers against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said there was growing concern among the people and government of the province over what was being planned for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and whether the province was being regarded as an integral part of Pakistan.
The Chief Minister said that, on the one hand, a Director General of a state institution was releasing videos and holding press conferences against the Chief Executive of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while, on the other, a judge of the judiciary was passing comments. “Do they want to divide Pakistan, or where do they want to take Pakistan?” he questioned. He said Pakistan belonged to all its provinces and citizens. A discriminatory attitude towards smaller provinces, he warned, would deepen mistrust and fuel resentment, which was neither in the interest of Pakistan nor of its institutions.
Turning to the performance of the provincial government, Sohail Afridi said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was moving in the right direction and remained focused on serving the public interest. He said the province had collected more than Rs150 billion in revenue against a target of Rs130 billion during the last financial year, while a revenue target of Rs180 billion had been set for the current financial year. He said the provincial government would generate more than Rs200 billion in revenue during the current financial year without imposing any new taxes. This, he said, was the essence of genuine public service and advancing the public interest.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over continued interference by individuals outside the relevant government and departmental structures, who, he said, were attempting to intimidate and pressure government officers. Referring to his previous experience, he said that while serving as Special Assistant, he had cancelled certain contracts relating to NLC C&W projects on account of poor performance and failure to deliver. Regarding projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Sohail Afridi said a comprehensive scrutiny process had been undertaken and only companies meeting the required merit criteria and possessing complete documentation had qualified.
Companies with incomplete documentation, fraudulent bank guarantees or those seeking qualification through recommendations had been disqualified. “This is the government of Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government; there is no room for wrongdoing or compromising merit,” the Chief Minister said. He added that he had no objection to any company receiving a contract if it met the requirements on merit and through a transparent process, but attempts to secure contracts through improper means would not be allowed to succeed.
The Chief Minister commended the officers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their work on merit, transparency, good governance and service delivery. “I stand like a rock behind my Cabinet and officers, and I will stand with them to the fullest extent against anyone who seeks to intimidate or threaten them,” he said.
Later, while briefing the media, Minister for Information & Public Relations, Science, Technology and Information Technology, Shafi Jan, said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, in its 58th meeting, approved a series of important decisions relating to prisons, witness protection, vehicle registration and other development matters.
Minister Shafi Jan said the Cabinet approved the establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Witness Protection Board, along with two units, under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Witness Protection Act, 2021. He explained that the Board’s functions would include framing policy guidelines, overseeing and monitoring their implementation, and supervising the performance of the units.
The Minister noted that the Act was enacted by the Provincial Government to protect witnesses and other individuals connected with sensitive criminal proceedings, including the investigation, prosecution and trial of offences such as terrorism. He added that under Sections 3 and 5, read with Rule 3 of the rules notified under the Act, the Provincial Government is required to establish the Witness Protection Board and Units I and II.
The Minister further stated that the Cabinet approved the signing of a fresh Government-to-Government (G2G) contract agreement, along with revised rates, for the printing and supply of vehicle registration documents — including polycarbonate smart cards, registration booklets and adhesive stickers — under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965.
According to Minister Shafi Jan, the Cabinet also granted two months’ special remission to eligible convicted prisoners in the case under consideration, with a formal notification to be issued thereafter in accordance with the applicable rules and past practice.
The Minister said a matter concerning the water distribution and supply mechanism between Galiyat and Murree – including rates, arrears and volume of supply – was presented before the Cabinet, along with a proposal to raise the matter before the Council of Common Interest (CCI). The Cabinet approved referring the matter to the next meeting of the CCI for resolution.
Minister Shafi Jan added that the Cabinet approved the submission of the Annual Report of the Provincial Ombudsman’s Office for the calendar year 2025 to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
