Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has voiced serious concern over the abrupt meeting cancellation called by the federal government to discuss the national and regional crisis, describing the unexplained move as a setback for cooperative federalism and coordinated policy response. The meeting cancellation, he said, raises questions about the federal government’s commitment to transparent consultation with provincial leadership at a time of heightened regional tensions.
The Chief Minister underlined that despite deep political differences and what he described as sustained political victimization of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had taken a principled decision to attend in the national interest. He referenced the treatment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi and party associates, noting that the party’s exclusion from key deliberations undermines democratic inclusivity.
Highlighting geopolitical developments involving Iran, Israel and the United States, Mr Afridi warned that the unfolding regional situation carries significant implications for Pakistan. He expressed concern that the federal government has not meaningfully engaged Parliament or the public on policy direction, and that critical national decisions appear to be taken without broad consultation or institutional alignment.
On intergovernmental fiscal matters, the Chief Minister said the scheduled meeting of the committee on the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) will not proceed because the federal side has signalled it cannot attend, which he interpreted as a lack of seriousness in addressing the province’s financial concerns. Under the AIP for the merged districts the federal government had committed PKR 100 billion annually for 10 years. However, he noted that only Rs 168 billion out of a committed Rs 700 billion has been released to date, leaving Rs 532 billion outstanding and with no allocation in the current fiscal year. The provincial government has provided bridge financing of PKR 26 billion from its own resources to sustain development work in merged areas.
Mr Afridi also complained that the share of merged districts has not been adequately reflected in the NFC framework, calling this inconsistent with constitutional provisions. He said approximately Rs 964 billion due to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the merged districts over the past eight years has not been allocated, citing that Punjab received Rs 567.9 billion, Sindh Rs 278.1 billion and Balochistan Rs 118.1 billion of that total.
The provincial administration, he added, has pursued austerity measures including further reductions in fuel usage for officials, restrictions on new vehicle procurement, strict foreign travel approvals and a shift to virtual meetings to conserve resources. By contrast, he criticised the federal government for incurring over USD 5 billion in debt in seven months while continuing high-value expenditures, including procurement of aircraft and hiring pilots on USD 70,000 salaries, which he said raises questions about fiscal priorities amid mounting economic pressures on citizens.
Pointing to key economic indicators, the Chief Minister observed GDP growth slipping from 6.1 percent before the change in government in 2022 to below 3 percent now, contraction in industrial activity, closures in the textile sector, a trade deficit exceeding USD 20 billion, declining exports, outward migration of youth and stress in agriculture affecting farmers. He noted fuel prices have risen sharply, with petrol near PKR 321 per litre compared with around PKR 150 per litre previously despite higher global oil prices then, a disparity he said underscores the need for better economic management and targeted relief.
Mr Afridi reiterated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s commitment to national stability and stated the province remains prepared to contribute constructively in times of crisis. He urged the federal government and relevant institutions to adopt a more transparent, consultative and inclusive approach by engaging Parliament and the public, ensuring equitable financial burden sharing across federating units and taking coordinated measures to address the country’s evolving challenges.
