Sherpao accuses Centre of ignoring smaller provinces in budget

PESHAWAR: Accusing the federal government of ignoring the smaller units of the federation, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) head Aftab Sherpao on Saturday said that announcing annual budget without having fresh data was a sheer injustice with the people of smaller provinces particularly militancy-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a ceremony here, he added that government had not done homework to prepare the annual budget for fiscal year 2016-17 as it had ignored some genuine problems of the common man.

“It has been nine years since unveiling the National Finance Commission (NFC) award among provinces and there is no fresh data about the country’s population. These two indicators are must for a balanced budget,” he added.

Aftab Sherpao maintained that government should have announced a special package for militancy-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because terrorism and extremism had destroyed its infrastructure and economy.   

Talking about Fata, he said that more than 10 million people from the tribal areas were displaced. He added that announcing Rs100 billion for their return and rehabilitation was not sufficient. The QWP leader said government should have announced a comprehensive package for the internally displaced persons to ensure their timely return with honour and dignity.

Aftab Sherpao said that using delaying tactics about KP’s share in net hydel profit by federal government had affected the lives of the common man and it would have negative impacts on the upcoming provincial budget 2016-17.

Talking about Pak-Afghan ties, Aftab Sherpao said that friendly and cordial relations between Kabul and Islamabad was the need of the hour and asked the government to take steps to make upcoming Quadrilateral Coordination Group’s meeting a success.

He urged the government to take Pakhtun leadership on board before formulating policies on Afghanistan and Pakhtuns living on both sides of the border.