PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Thursday that the federal government had adopted step-motherly treatment with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was neither paying the province’s Rs110 billion hydel power dues nor accommodating its suggestions for inclusion of western route in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He said that the federal government was supposed to pay all the pending dues to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but it was using delaying tactics and forcing the provincial government to march on Islamabad for rights of the people of the province.

The chief minister expressed these views while speaking at a function at the Peshawar Press Club held in connection with the oath-taking ceremony of the press club’s newly-elected office-bearers.

He said that dues of net hydel profits had been pending and the federal government was not paying them which had also affected budgetary process of the provincial government. He said that rest of the three provinces had got share in water distribution, but KP was kept deprived of it so far. He said that the province should be given its water share in Chashma Right Bank Canal to meet its irrigation requirements.

Says federal govt not paying province’s Rs110bn hydel power dues

Mr Khattak said that the federal government had started inauguration of various mega projects in Punjab under the CPEC, but kept the KP and its people in the dark.

He claimed that the Chinese asserted that western route was not part of CPEC, but both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal were avoiding disclosing facts and figures about the project.

Referring to his recent meeting with Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, Mr Khattak said that on his question he was told that the route was not part of CPEC. He recalled that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had promised to initiate work on the western route of CPEC, but such promises proved untruthful. He said that the terrorism-affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan should be given their due rights under CPEC without any discrimination with small federating units.

Provincial minister for local government Inayatullah Khan, minister for public health engineering Shah Farman, advisor to chief minister on information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, Peshawar district nazim Arbab Asim Khan, naib nazim Qasim Ali Shah, foreign diplomats, senior officials and members of the journalist community also attended the event.

The chief minister said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would continue raising its voice against the injustices as it was not given a single penny from the $46 billion funds for CPEC, adding that the federal government should fulfil its commitment of giving due share to the province.

About achievements of the PTI-led provincial government, he claimed that it had fully implemented the reforms agenda, adding that the change was inevitable to bring transparency, fairness, accountability and improvement in the system.

He said that the government had adopted ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against corruption. He said that those believing in status quo won’t favour change in the system and they were in the habit to move court against reforms.

Within naming the federal government, he said that development did not mean only construction of roads, buildings or flyovers. He claimed that the provincial government was spending funds on the welfare of people. He said that the change had begun by bringing reforms in the police, health, education, revenue and other department in the province.

Mr Khattak said that his government had unveiled a comprehensive industrial policy to cope with growing unemployment and would extend facilities to investors and businessmen. He said that decentralisation process had completed at various departments to shift power to the elected representatives. He asked the local representatives to focus on resolution of public issues instead of seeking more powers.

He urged the mediapersons to make constructive criticism and highlight issues.

Earlier, Mushtaq Ghani briefed the participants about the government’s initiatives for the welfare of journalist community in the province. He said that media had played a significant role in highlighting issues and the government welcomed positive and constructive criticism.

Mr Ghani said that the provincial government was determined to resolve all issues and problems of journalists on priority. He said that transparency and good governance had been ensured at all levels.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016