Revises Panel for Chief Secretary Appointment, Dismisses Discrimination Claims
Maintains Additional NFC Share for KP, Unique Privilege Not Given to Other Provinces
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government for not establishing a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) despite receiving Rs590 billion over the past 14 years.
During a parliamentary session, the Prime Minister responded to a point raised by Sunni Ittehad Council member and former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser. He highlighted that an additional one percent share was allocated to KP under the NFC Award to strengthen its anti-terrorism efforts. This decision was made in 2010 by then-Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani when terrorism was at its peak, and KP was the most affected province. The PM praised the sacrifices of the KP people, calling them frontline soldiers against terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that the additional NFC share for KP remains intact, a privilege not extended to any other province, including Balochistan, despite their significant contributions to the fight against terrorism.
He pointed out that from 2010 to now, KP has received Rs590 billion but has still not set up the CTD, the department for which the funds were primarily allocated. He questioned why the CTD remains incomplete despite the substantial financial support.
Addressing another concern raised by the opposition, the PM informed the House that the federal government had forwarded a panel of three candidates for the appointment of the Chief Secretary in KP, following tradition. He offered to revise the panel if the provincial government desired but dismissed allegations of discrimination against the province.
