KP CM Sohail Afridi says ‘no political talks’ after meeting PM Shehbaz
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday and discussed governance, security, and financial issues facing the province. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, was the first since Afridi took office as the provincial chief executive on October 13 last year.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Afridi said that no political discussions were held about any meeting with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. He further clarified that nothing was discussed regarding a meeting between the PTI founder and his sisters.
Afridi said he raised the matter that Rs2,600 billion funds for the merged tribal districts remained blocked, adding that the prime minister issued directions to release the funds. He said a follow-up meeting will be held after Eid to discuss terrorism and related security matters.
Afridi said that the people of Tirah, Kurram, and Bajaur are making enormous sacrifices, adding that an allocation of Rs4 billion is insufficient for communities that have borne such heavy losses.
A statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the prime minister underscored the importance of federal-provincial coordination for the welfare and development of the people.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz said that collaboration was indispensable for maintaining law and order in the province and that the provincial government must further strengthen its efforts to ensure peace and stability.
The statement added that provincial institutions should be empowered to combat terrorism effectively, and federal and provincial governments will continue joint efforts to eliminate militancy completely.
He emphasised that the provincial government should fulfill its constitutional responsibility for the welfare of the people and the maintenance of law and order in the province.
Regarding governance and development, he noted that the provincial government was empowered to take measures for education, health, and public welfare in the province, and that the federal government has always strived to improve the lives of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed that KP was an important unit of the federation, and that the federal government will continue its full support for the province’s development and the well-being of its citizens.
The statement further highlighted that close coordination and effective communication between the federal and provincial governments are imperative, and the prime minister assured cooperation in developmental projects and infrastructure improvements across the province.
On employment, health, and education, the prime minister pledged support within the federal framework to expand opportunities for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.