PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Pervez Khattak addressed a 4-member delegation of DFID Pakistan led by DFID Head Ms Joanna Reid at the Chief Minister House Peshawar. He spoke about the reforms brought about by his government and how they had enabled the institutions to efficiently deliver.
ACS Shahzad Bangash, administrative secretaries and Head of SSU Sahibzada Saeed were also present on the occasion.
Pervez Khattak said that he regretted “wrong perceptions” adding that his government worked on eliminating corruption, reducing the crime graph, bringing transparency in the whole governance structure and eliminating political intervention in public sector institutions.
He stressed on the noble intention and the political will, required for the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that his government’s investment-friendly approach attracted mass scale foreign and domestic investment, making the province an attractive destination for investment. He added that his government had zero level tolerance for corruption.
The CM said that his government worked on improving the governance structure because of the wrong image built up by the mess previous rulers had created. There were reasons for the wrong image and therefore his government addressed the challenges that had created the wrong image.
“With an improved security, reduced crime graph, improved law and order situation, depoliticized public-sector institutions, good governance and above all our sacrifices for bringing back normalcy should have washed away the wrong perception about the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
Pervez Khattak talked about his government’s reforms that discouraged corruption and corrupt practices in the province. He said that the goals and the targets were clear and that his government just put some safeguards for efficient delivery giving no room for corruption. The whole transformational exercise was executed and supported by different sets of legislation.
“It was the result of a collective teamwork. We did not bow out to any pressure and the change is now visible as per the promise of PTI. The institutions started delivering and the people got satisfied. It is not the end but the beginning of corruption free and transparent governance leading to a prosperous and developed future of the province,” he added.
Khattak told the delegates that his government made investment friendly industrial and investment policies to attract mass scale investment to the province. He said that the government had some agreements and MoUs with foreign investors and on the basis of these activities, this province emerged to be the most attractive destination for investment in the backdrop of CPEC.
“Regarding the ideal policing, the Khattak told the delegates that his government eliminated political interference, conveying to the police against any third-degree method in police stations. This changed the whole complexion of policing in the province and brought transparency and corruption-free policing,” he said.
On a question regarding the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the chief minister spoke his mind saying that he and the people on both sides of settled and tribal areas wanted a merger but this merger needed the federal governments’ good intention.
He stated that it is the easiest thing to do with principled intention and will. “Within a period of two months, the entire merger plan could be completed. The existing governance structure and the policing could be extended within no time to tribal areas”.
He warned against any new experimentation in the whole merger process and said that it shouldn’t be delayed.
Speaking with clarity and zeal, Pervez Khattak was certain that his party would stage a comeback in KP on the basis of its performance, adding that this performance would serve as the basis for PTI to win the coming elections with majority seats in the whole country. He was equally certain that there would be no competing political force with PTI in the elections.
Answering a question, he spoke about the KPEZDMC, the development of industrial zones in Reshakai, Haripur and D. I. Khan along with 16 other industrial zones throughout the province, saying that the investment and industrialization process would serve as the emergence of a strong economic base of the province. He said that it would create jobs for the jobless and bring overall development and prosperity to this neglected province.
The CM also talked about the roadmap for the rule of law directing the concerned quarters to finalize all features of the roadmap within three months that he added would serve the supremacy of law.
The delegates recognized the yeoman service that the provincial government did in the short span of its rule.
They hoped that their reforms and efforts for a corruption-free governance, better security, improved law and order situation, policing and improved governance structure would keep on abolishing the wrong image and wrong perception of the province.
