Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday said that federal funds allocated for the province had been spent on selected areas instead of deserving regions, resulting in worsening problems for residents of the merged districts rather than providing relief.
He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of the Mazloom Awami Tehreek from Tirah, led by its leader Ummat Gul, who called on here at Governor House.
The delegation apprised the Governor of the difficulties being faced by the people of Khyber district, particularly the residents of Tirah.
The Governor said the Pakistan Red Crescent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had always extended maximum humanitarian assistance despite its limited resources.
He said restoration of lasting peace remained the foremost priority, adding that the security forces and the people of the province had rendered exemplary sacrifices for peace. He said the nation was proud of its armed forces, police and FC for their services and sacrifices.
Kundi said the provincial government could not effectively resolve public issues without coordination with the federal government.
He assured the delegation that issues relating to both federal and provincial departments would be taken up with the relevant authorities and that every possible effort would be made to facilitate their resolution.
Meanwhile, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has assured that the federal government was actively pursuing the issue of abolishing taxes in the merged districts and PATA, saying he would soon raise the matter with the Prime Minister to seek an early resolution.
The assurance came during a meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Provincial Deputy Secretary Information for Social Media Syed Tahir Abbas and Chairman of the Pakistan Border Trade Council Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi at the Governor House.
During the meeting, the participants discussed public issues, party affairs and the tax-related concerns of the people in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (ex-FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA).
Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi informed the Governor about the difficulties being faced by the people following the imposition of taxes in the merged districts and requested him to play an active role in resolving the issue.
Governor Kundi said consultations with senior federal government officials on the matter were underway. He added that he would soon meet the Prime Minister to take up the issue and keep the public informed about any progress.
He reiterated that resolving public grievances and addressing the problems of the people of the merged tribal districts remained among the government’s top priorities, adding that all possible measures would be taken to provide relief to the affected population.
