Afridi warns of NEC boycott over rights concerns

ISLAMABAD: A federal team led by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal held detailed talks with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Monday on a range of inter-provincial issues, including the upcoming National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, consultations with PTI founder Imran Khan, the province’s constitutional and financial rights, development funds for the merged districts, energy matters, wheat supply and hydropower projects.

During the meeting, Afridi told the federal delegation that K-P had been facing what he described as persistent discriminatory treatment. He said it would become difficult for the province to take part in the NEC meeting if its constitutional and financial entitlements continued to be denied. He also said consultation with Imran Khan before major budgetary decisions and other national-level matters was essential.

The chief minister said repeated reductions in the province’s development and financial allocations had reached an alarming point. He further stated that the National Finance Commission share for the merged districts had been withheld in violation of the Constitution for the past eight years, which he said had badly affected development and public welfare in those areas.

Referring to previous engagements with federal representatives, Afridi said the discussions had not produced solutions for the province.

"It is unfortunate that after every meeting with federal representatives, instead of resolving issues, we see more injustices being inflicted on the province," he remarked.

Issues raised by the province

Afridi also pressed the federal side on what he said were hurdles in the supply of wheat from Punjab, K-P’s rights over gas, and difficulties linked to hydropower schemes.

On a completed dam project in Swat, the chief minister said the facility was still not operational because No Objection Certificates had not been issued to Chinese engineers. He said the delay was affecting both public interest and national resources.

He also raised the issue of a completed bus terminal project that, according to him, could not be put to use because the National Highway Authority had yet to issue the required NOC.

Ahsan Iqbal assured the provincial government that the required NOC for the bus terminal project would be issued within 24 hours.