SWABI, Nov 28: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that his party would continue to strive for genuine provincial autonomy.

Addressing Swabi Bar Association at judicial complex here on Wednesday, he said that each province should have the right over its resources and the same should be used by parliamentarians for welfare of masses and strengthening of the country.

“We have yet to achieve real provincial autonomy,” Mr Sherpao said and added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government still had a huge outstanding amount against the federal government.

He said that there was a dire need for a new social contract because the entire scenario in the country had undergone a massive change. He said that policies should be adopted according to needs of the country and its people. He said that the 18th amendment was not yet fully implemented.

The QWP chairman said that policy-makers of the country should sit across the table with Pakhtun leaders to formulate a new policy and line of action because all Pakhtun regions had suffered a lot during last three decades and still there was no ray of hope.

“The entire infrastructure in Pakhtun region has been shattered by continued fight against terrorism and there is need for launching new initiatives to address grievances of the people,” he said.

He also called on Pakhtuns to shun their differences and unite for saving future of the youth.

He urged the government to provide adequate funds for initiating speedy reconstruction process in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal regions. He called for meaningful steps to restore peace in the crisis-hit Pakhtun regions and advocated for good neighbourly relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mr Sherpao said that leadership of both the countries should make serious efforts for restoring peace in the region to make it a hub of economic activities. He said that a peaceful Afghanistan would pave the way for trade with Central Asian Republics who eagerly wanted to boost relations with Pakistan.