PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Adviser on Finance Muzzammil Aslam said on Thursday that the provincial government stood firmly with the federal government and armed forces in the fight against terrorism.
Speaking to a private TV channel, Aslam stated that KP is the only province to have developed its own provincial action plan against terrorism. “We are on the same page with the federation, though some try to create political misunderstandings,” he said, adding that the KP government is actively cooperating in anti-terror efforts.
He noted that Rs 7 billion has been released to the police, and bulletproof vehicles were procured to strengthen counterterrorism operations. The government is also compensating citizens affected by intelligence-based operations, he said.
Aslam emphasised that KP wants the dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees, revealing that 80% of those returning from Pakistan have been from KP. He claimed that the federal government has not contributed a single rupee, while the KP government has borne all costs of repatriation. Law enforcement agencies, he added, are handling the issue of refugees moving from other provinces into KP.
The adviser further said that the Interior Ministry and the provincial Home Department are working together, but the federal government still owes payments for internally displaced persons (IDPs). “We are paying Rs 400 million per month to IDPs,” he said, adding that Rs 3.5 billion has already been paid to displaced families from Bajaur and other areas, while the federation remains indebted to KP.
Aslam also criticised the federal government for delaying development funds, saying: “Under the ADP, two installments should have been released in four months, but not a single rupee has been received. Our fight is to include the merged districts in the NFC. In the first four months, the NFC transfers fell short by Rs 65 billion, and Rs 40 billion less were received for development.”