PM promises ‘better days ahead’ for KP
• Maintains ‘extraordinary circumstances’ compelled him to impose emergency
• Lashes out at PTI for its ‘criminal negligence’, undermining fight against terrorism
• Sees more ‘tough decisions’ ahead; assures tribal elders of Rs160 billion for uplift projects
• Kundi terms federal cooperation essential for lasting peace, stability
PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to take tough decisions as he chaired a meeting of the federal apex committee in Peshawar on Thursday, while also reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to bringing peace to terrorism-hit districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the meeting held at the Governor House, the PM said the federal government had been compelled to impose constitutional measures of emergency and governor’s rule in the province under extraordinary circumstances.
“KP has been badly affected by the difficult situation created over the past several years,” he said, adding that the deterioration of law and order during the last six years caused serious damage to peace and development in the province. “By 2018, complete peace had been restored in KP,” he said, adding that peace had been achieved through sacrifices rendered by security personnel and civilians.
The PM regretted that after peace had been restored in 2018, terrorists were brought back by a political party that plunged the province into a deep crisis in its 13-year rule and undermined sacrifices made in the fight against terrorism. Resultantly, the people of the province bore the adverse consequences due to negligence of the PTI rulers, he said.
The PM said that during the PTI government, all areas of public welfare, including education, health and security, were neglected, resulting in the rise of terrorism. “This is an unprecedented example of criminal negligence and insensitivity,” he said.
“Neither police nor the police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) were given proper attention in terms of capacity-building training and equipment,” he said, adding that under the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, all provinces had collectively agreed to support KP in view of its frontline role in the war against terrorism.
“All provinces agreed to provide resources to KP for counter-terrorism,” he said, adding that the chief ministers had decided to allocate an additional one per cent from the federal and provincial shares of funds to the province. He said that since 2010, KP had received around Rs800 billion under the NFC Award for counter-terrorism.
He said that it was highly regrettable that terrorism emerged again with greater intensity, adding that police were also not provided adequate training, modern weapons and other necessary equipment, which was highly deplorable. “This is an extremely painful story concerning Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he remarked.
The prime minister also questioned whether the federal government could have continued watching KP burn amid worsening violence and terrorism in KP. “Could we continue to tolerate bloodshed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?” he questioned.
A high-level political committee had been constituted and its members had worked hard during 48 hours of negotiations with the PTI committee before promulgation of the emergency. He said he had consulted President Asif Ali Zardari twice over the extremely deteriorating law and order situation in KP, adding that these decisions were made because of the difficult circumstances.
He assured people of the province that the federal government, in collaboration with the military, would work tirelessly to resolve their problems at their doorsteps. “We will bring back an era of happiness, peace and development in KP,” he said and expressed the resolve to turn into reality the dreams of prosperity of the KP residents. Meanwhile, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that maintaining law and order in the province was the top priority, adding that the people of KP wanted peace and development.
He said the army, Frontier Corps and the police had rendered precious sacrifices for maintaining peace and security in the province. The governor emphasised that federal cooperation was essential for lasting peace and stability in the province.
He said the objective was to formulate a workable strategy to address the problems confronting KP and expressed gratitude for the federal government’s cooperation in ensuring peace and stability in the province.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, and other cabinet members and relevant officials.
Rs160 billion for KP districts
Later, the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) constituted for 12 districts of KP, which face serious security challenges, also met with PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir.
The council covers Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, South Waziristan Upper and South Waziristan Lower. It includes 48 elders and prominent personalities from those districts to ensure local representation. Addressing the ARDC, the prime minister announced that the federal government would provide KP with Rs160bn for development projects.
Furthermore, to address the wheat shortage in the province, he said the Centre would provide KP “as much wheat as is needed” from the storages of Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco).
He went on to assure the ARDC that the federal government will provide “whatever assistance” in operations and resources is needed to fight terrorism. He also said directives have been issued to bolster the CTD and complete Safe City projects.
PM Shehbaz also asserted that any difficulties in the completion of the federal government’s projects in KP would be resolved, adding that the governor-led administration will address problems in provincial projects.
Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2026
