JI urges countrywide movement over inflation and corruption

MALAKAND: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North chief Inayatullah Khan on Sunday called for a nationwide public campaign against inflation, corruption and what he described as the government’s failed economic policies, saying people should resist measures that had deepened public hardship.

Addressing a public gathering in Malakand, Mr Khan said the country was confronting economic, political and administrative challenges, while ordinary citizens were struggling with rising prices, unemployment and what he termed widespread injustice. He asked party workers to take the JI message to every household and build awareness about the need for broader reforms.

He said the federal budget had been prepared on an interest-based economic model, which he argued was not in line with Islamic principles. He also criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget, saying it had failed to meet public expectations and did not provide sufficient funds for development schemes.

Speaking about public hardship, Mr Khan said the country was passing through a difficult phase marked by inflation, fewer job opportunities and weakening services. In his remarks, he said:

“The nation is passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. People are unable to cope with soaring inflation, shrinking employment opportunities and declining public services,” he said.

Budget and development concerns

Mr Khan questioned the government’s development priorities, especially funding for large infrastructure projects. Referring to the Swat and Dir Motorway, he said the allocation set aside in the budget was too small to ensure timely completion of the project and warned that, at the current pace, it could take many years to finish.

He said insufficient funding for such a major scheme was depriving people in the region of badly needed infrastructure. In this context, he said:

“Allocating limited resources to such a major project amounts to denying the people of the region the infrastructure they desperately need,” he said.

The JI leader also raised concerns about the proposed Medical Complex project, saying it appeared to remain confined to announcements and had yet to show meaningful progress on the ground.

Education, security and taxes

Mr Khan claimed that around five million children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were out of school, including about 57,000 in Malakand district. He said the shortage of educational opportunities was undermining the future of the younger generation and adding to frustration among youth.

Emphasising the importance of education, he said:

“Without investing in schools and educational facilities, sustainable development cannot be achieved,” he said.

He also said insecurity remained a serious concern for local communities. Mr Khan strongly opposed the withdrawal of the tax-free status previously available to Malakand Division and warned that any new taxes on the region would carry serious economic consequences.

According to Mr Khan, residents of Malakand should not be burdened with additional taxation until they are provided development opportunities and basic facilities comparable to those in more developed parts of the country.

Migration issue raised

Mr Khan also referred to a rising trend of overseas migration, claiming that many Pakistanis had gone abroad this year in search of work. He alleged that job seekers trying to leave for employment overseas were facing unnecessary difficulties and bureaucratic obstacles at different institutions, and called on the relevant authorities to address the issue.