PTI Govt turned KP into ruins: Dr. Ibadullah
PESHAWAR (APP): Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dr. Ibadullah Khan here Monday said that this is the 12th budget of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial governments, but he believes this will be their last.
He said PTI came to power 13 years ago, promising a better education system, healthcare, social justice, and housing for the people, but once in power, it reneged on every single promise of its manifesto.
Speaking at the start of the general debate on the 2025-26 budget in the KP Assembly on Monday, he said the provincial government has once again claimed to present a surplus budget, just like it did last year. “If last year’s budget was really surplus, then why was there a need for a supplementary budget today?”
He added that the KP government is heavily dependent on funds from the federal government, with only 7% of its total budget coming from its own resources and 93% from federal funds. “So how can they claim to have a surplus budget?”
Dr. Ibadullah pointed out that in 2013, the provincial budget was Rs 319 billion, whereas today it is being shown as Rs 1.6 trillion. “If this large amount was truly spent on development, then where exactly was it spent?” He said current expenditures are at 12%, but growth is only at 1%. In 2013, the province had a debt of PKR 150 billion; today, it exceeds Rs800 billion.
He remarked that while PTI paints a picture of KP as paradise on social media, in reality, the province has been turned into ruins. “Your leader used to say he’d prefer suicide over taking loans, but in practice, no one has been spared.” He reminded the government that the people of KP brought them to power three times.
He criticized the Chief Minister’s recent claim about digging a tunnel to Adiala Jail for Imran Khan’s release, saying, “You don’t even have the money to build that tunnel.”
He continued, “On one hand, you cry that the federation isn’t giving you funds, and on the other, your Chief Minister claims to be in a position to lend money to the federation.”
He challenged the government, asking how many times the Provincial Finance Commission has been convened, questioning their ability to utilize even the allocated funds for the Annual Development Program. “You’ve financially weakened this province to the lowest level, yet can’t present even a single mega project.”
He highlighted that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project remains incomplete for years, and the Swat Motorway, built on a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) basis, does not contribute a single rupee of revenue to the provincial treasury.
He also mentioned corruption scandals emerging from various districts, including the theft of Rs 40 billion from a government account in the underdeveloped Kohistan district.
Thousands of schools in the province lack basic facilities, and the health sector is being run by someone who resides in the United States.
He emphasized the need for a fair system to distribute development funds, especially to uplift the least developed districts.
Meanwhile, KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati ruled that after amendments in the rules, there is no restriction on Advisor on Finance Muzzammil Aslam sitting in the assembly. Seats have already been allocated for advisors. The Law Minister has been instructed to inform Muzzammil Aslam so he can attend the session and answer members’ questions.
Previously, Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah had stated that the person who prepared the budget should be present in the house to hear and respond to queries. Law Minister Aftab Alam had merely presented the budget in the assembly.
Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah accused the provincial government and Finance Advisor of repeatedly misrepresenting facts. He said the federal government has already allocated Rs 538 billion for KP’s development projects under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), while the advisor falsely claims only Rs 550 million were allocated.
Speaking during the general debate on the 2025–26 budget in the KP Assembly, PTI’s Munir Hussain Laghmani said the provincial government has presented a balanced budget despite facing tough conditions.
He praised the government for presenting a tax-free budget as a service to the people.
He pointed out the shortage of teachers in schools in the Kaghan Valley and urged the government to address this issue and promote tourism in the region.
Rajab Ali Abbasi said that by including cochlear implants in the health card program, the government has won people’s hearts. He added that KP is an agricultural province, and the government should launch livestock development programs.
JUI’s Adnan Wazir criticized the budget as being full of contradictions and wordplay. He said the provincial government’s claim of receiving fewer funds from the federation is false, as—aside from the merged districts—the province has received more funds in every sector from the federal government.
