PESHAWAR
The government and opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday joined hands for waging struggle for the provincial rights.
The decision was taken in a joint jirga of the leaders of treasury and opposition benches of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Cabinet Room of the Civil Secretariat with Senior Minister Sirajul Haq in the chair.
The joint opposition was led by Leader of Opposition, Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan. Those who attended were included Lutfur Rehman (JUI-F), Saleem Khan (PPP), Sikandar Sherpao (QWP), Sardar Hussain Babak (ANP), Muzzafar Said, Shahram Khan Tarakai (AJI), Information Minister, Shah Farman and Health Minister Shaukat Yusufzai.
Briefing media regarding the joint meeting, the senior minister said that the KP government presented the case, prevailing situation and difficulties faced by the province in this regard before the opposition and after discussion both sides agreed on joint pleading of the case and struggle for rights of the province.
The meeting decided that receipts received from the federal government would be utilised on the pattern as demanded by the province and like the federal government the distribution would be made on the formula basis of poverty and backwardness. The opposition leader also gave suggestions on guaranteeing transparency and good governance.
The meeting observed that according to Article 161 (2) of the constitution and AGN Qazi Formula, the payment of net-hydro profit to the province on regular basis was accomplished and fundamental rights of the province and any delay in this regard was violation of the decisions of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) and the president. Therefore, the meeting demanded the payment of all arrears in this regard to the province without any further delay and uncapping of the ratio of the net-profit and guarantee it payment in future.
It said that KP was a war-torn area and bearing huge losses while it also bearing the burden of tribal area. In last, National Finance Commission (NFC) Award the province was granted 1 percent share of the federal divisible pool, which is nominal and it should be increased to at least 5 percent.
The joint meeting also complained of injustice in development schemes under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the province, saying during last four years schemes to the tone of Rs 3421 billion were approved, but Rs 59 billion were utilized, which is only 1.7 percent as compared to 14.16 percent right of the province.
The meeting also demanded immediate completion of the project of Lowari Tunnel to resolve the long standing problem of the residents of District Chitral.
