Muzammil worried over ‘suspension’ for funds for merged districts

PESHAWAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister for Finance and Inter-Provincial Coordination Muzammil Aslam has expressed concerns over the ‘suspension’ of funds for the merged districts by Ahsan Iqbal, chairman of the Planning Commission.

In a statement Muzammil Aslam stated that Ahsan Iqbal had retained his positions as chairman and deputy chairman but had halted funds for the merged districts.

Aslam criticised Ahsan Iqbal’s actions, saying that he had done the same in 2022, which is unacceptable. He emphasised that the timely provision of developmental funds for the merged districts is the right of the public of merged districts, and they would not make any humble requests for release of funds.

The advisor for finance urged the prime minister and finance minister to take immediate notice of the suspension of funds for the merged districts. He also pointed out that the federal government has allocated a minimal budget for the merged districts, which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is fulfilling through its own resources.

Muzammil Aslam added that the province would not take responsibility for any shortcomings in achieving IMF targets, and that Punjab’s poor performance should not be hidden by intentionally sabotaging Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s performance.