Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, where the two leaders discussed outstanding federal funds for the province along with other key issues.
Pakistan Navy Shaheed Muhammad Shahzaib Laid to Rest with Full Military Honours
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, CM Afridi said the engagement was driven by his responsibility toward the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Perhaps as a political worker I would never have sat there, but I considered it necessary for my people and my province, where conditions are becoming serious — financially and due to decisions taken behind closed doors,” he said, adding that the meeting was essential under the circumstances.
Referring to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report issued in November, Afridi alleged that the lender had effectively presented a “charge sheet” against the federal government, claiming corruption amounting to Rs5,300 billion.
“Rs4 billion is a small amount. It is nothing compared to the sacrifices being made by my people in Tirah, Kurram and Bajaur,” the chief minister said, adding that raising objections over such funds was equivalent to disregarding those sacrifices.
Earlier in the day, PTI’s North Punjab chapter confirmed via X that CM Afridi had arrived at the PM House.
A day earlier, while addressing a jirga in Khyber, Afridi had announced his planned meeting with the prime minister, saying he would “plead the case of KP’s rights and secure our outstanding dues”.
The meeting follows a letter sent by Afridi to PM Shehbaz last week, in which he criticised the federal government for what he termed a “persistent failure” to release constitutionally guaranteed funds, particularly those allocated for the merged districts under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
He warned that the continued delay had resulted in an acute fiscal and governance crisis in the province and demanded the “full and unconditional” release of all pending federal dues.
According to the KP chief minister, the province is entitled to Rs658.4 billion under the NFC but has so far received only Rs604 billion, leaving a shortfall of Rs54.4 billion.
Since assuming office in October last year, Afridi has repeatedly accused the federal government of delaying the disbursement of funds allocated to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
