Gandapur rules out his replacement as CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has ruled out the possibility of his removal as chief executive of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, asserting that under his leadership, the province has achieved a remarkable 49 percent increase in revenue within just one year.

During a briefing to journalists at the Chief Minister’s House on Monday, Gandapur highlighted the government’s one-year performance while criticizing previous administrations for wasting resources on ineffective projects and making exaggerated claims.

“When we took over last year, the province was in a dire financial state, burdened with liabilities. However, through our dedication and hard work, we have successfully put KP on the right track. We are the first in the world to achieve a 49 percent revenue increase in just one year,” he claimed.

When reminded that his criticism extended to the two previous PTI-led governments, potentially displeasing Imran Khan, Gandapur defended his remarks, stating these were based on facts.

“I have no personal agenda—facts are facts. Imran Khan does not support dishonesty. There is no division in the party. If I am serving as chief minister today, it is because of his trust and support,” he maintained.

Gandapur emphasized his strong ties with newly appointed PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar, pledging full support in strengthening the party. Regarding potential cabinet changes, he said that he was unaware of any impending reshuffle, pointing out that Imran Khan had personally nominated the cabinet members.

When asked whether he had discussed his government’s achievements with Imran Khan, Gandapur admitted that he hadn’t had a detailed conversation due to Imran Khan’s prolonged incarceration.

The chief minister revealed that he had taken the federal government into confidence regarding the proposed visit of a high-powered delegation to Kabul to address cross-border terrorism.

“As Pakistanis, we want peace in our country. However, due to KP’s long border with Afghanistan, we have suffered immensely from terrorism. We have paid a heavy price in the war against terror. That’s why I urged the federal government to engage with Afghan authorities, but my request was initially declined,” he explained.

He added that the federal government had now agreed to the proposal, and preparations for the visit were underway. “Terms of reference for the visit are being discussed in Islamabad. Very soon, the delegation will fly to Kabul for talks with Afghan leaders,” he said.

Addressing the recent unexpected replacement of the provincial police chief, Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, the chief minister confirmed that the federal government had consulted him before making the decision. “I submitted a summary with three names for the new inspector general of police. The federal government selected one of them, and I am satisfied with the appointment,” he stated.

Gandapur praised the newly appointed IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, calling him a highly professional officer with a strong investigative background. Discussing healthcare, Gandapur noted that when he assumed office, the Sehat Card program was suspended due to Rs20 billion in outstanding liabilities.

“The previous government had added hospitals to the Sehat Card scheme without ensuring they met basic standards. We cleared all outstanding payments to the insurance company and enlisted top-tier hospitals in the program,” he said.

He revealed that under the previous administration, only 26 percent of the Sehat Card budget went to public-sector hospitals due to poor management and lack of patient trust in government facilities.

“We took corrective measures and increased the rates for certain surgical procedures by 30 percent. Now, 66 percent of the Sehat Card budget is directed to public-sector hospitals,” he stated.

Additionally, Gandapur said the KP government had saved Rs900 million in medicine procurement. “Through better financial management, we have ensured cost-effective procurement without compromising quality,” he added.