Gandapur hails British donors for welfare initiatives

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and discussed matters of mutual interest, particularly the role of British donor agencies in public welfare initiatives and regional security.

An official handout said that Additional Chief Secretary for Planning, Ikramullah and other senior officials also attended the meeting.Speaking on this occasion, the chief minister highlighted the deteriorating law and order in the province, especially in the newly merged districts, attributing it directly to the security situation in neighbouring Afghanistan. He stressed the need for serious and result-oriented efforts to find a sustainable solution to this longstanding issue, warning that if the security challenges in the merged districts were not addressed promptly, they could escalate and affect the entire country.

He informed the British envoy that his government had formed a jirga to initiate dialogue with Afghan counterparts, and all necessary preparations for sending the delegation were complete. However, since the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the federal government, the KP government was awaiting approval of the terms of reference (TORs) for the negotiations.

Gandapur emphasized that lasting peace in the region was not just in Pakistan’s interest but also in the interest of the entire region and the global community. He called upon the world community to work collectively towards a permanent resolution through dialogue.

Touching upon the financial challenges faced by the province, the chief minister criticized the federal government for not releasing KP’s due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, particularly for the newly merged districts.

He stated that over Rs2,000 billion in net hydel profit payments remained unpaid by the federal government.Additionally, under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the province was entitled to Rs220 billion annually from tobacco cess, but these funds had not been released for the last 10 months, disrupting development projects and causing unrest among the local population.

Gandapur called for a revision of the existing NFC formula, arguing that KP absorbed 45 percent of the country’s carbon emissions but received no compensation. He proposed allocating a specific NFC share for forest cover, warning that if the province’s constitutional rights are not addressed by next month, the KP government would approach the Supreme Court and raise its concerns on every available platform, without compromising on its rights.

The chief minister highlighted immense opportunities in tourism and mineral resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and said the government was working on developing these sectors to generate employment.

He said that a provincial mining company had been established to utilize KP’s vast mineral resources, while work was underway to develop Integrated Tourism Zones for promoting new tourist destinations.He invited foreign investors to explore these opportunities, assuring them of full support and facilitation.

Gandapur said the KP government would implement whatever decision the federal government made regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees. However, he stressed that if a repatriation plan was finalized, it must ensure a dignified and well-structured return process for Afghan refugees.