PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Pledging to usher in an era of prosperity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the federal government and military leadership were working together on a fast-track basis to restore lasting peace and promote development in the province.
He announced a Rs160 billion development package for the province while addressing a meeting of the Federal Apex Committee at the Governor's House. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister Amir Muqam, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari, PM's Adviser Rana Sanaullah, and other senior officials.
Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister said difficult decisions had to be taken in KP due to the deteriorating law and order situation. He expressed the resolve that the federal government, in cooperation with the military leadership, would soon restore lasting peace and promote prosperity in the terrorism-affected districts.
He described KP as a beautiful province inhabited by courageous and resilient people. The Prime Minister expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of a teacher and children in a recent school roof collapse in Peshawar and directed the KP Governor to ensure a thorough investigation.
He noted that the deterioration in law and order over the last six years had seriously undermined development. Recalling that Pakistan's armed forces had successfully defeated terrorism by 2018, he lamented that terrorists were later brought back by a political party that had plunged the province into a deep crisis during its 13 years in power.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the federal government is committed to providing all necessary resources to the provincial administration to ensure the safety of citizens. He stated that the development package would focus on infrastructure, education, and health sectors to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the local population.
General Syed Asim Munir briefed the committee on the security situation, highlighting the ongoing efforts to dismantle militant networks. The military leadership reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the civil administration in maintaining law and order.
The participants of the meeting agreed that a coordinated approach between the federal and provincial governments is essential for the success of the development initiatives. The Prime Minister directed the relevant ministries to ensure the transparent and timely utilization of the allocated funds.
In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister reiterated that the government would not allow any elements to disrupt the peace and stability of the country. He urged the people of KP to continue supporting the state's efforts in eradicating the menace of terrorism.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on strengthening intelligence-based operations and enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies to effectively counter security threats in the region.