Shehbaz questions transparency of PTI’s spending in KP

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday criticised PTI’s governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, questioning whether the funds available to the now dysfunctional provincial government had been used transparently for the welfare and betterment of the people of the province.

His remarks came during a meeting of the PML-N’s parliamentary party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, held in Islamabad.

The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. 

The move had drawn criticism from the opposition, as well as Fazl, who had made efforts to reduce tensions between the federal and the KP governments.

Taking aim at the PTI, Prime Minister Shehbaz said: “They have been in power in KP for 13 years. Over these 13 years, they have raised countless slogans, delivered fiery speeches, held long marches and sit-ins, and made numerous promises.”

Recalling PTI’s promises to build hundreds of dams, generate hundreds of megawatts of solar power, and establish hospitals, universities and schools across the province, the prime minister questioned whether any of these pledges had been fulfilled during the party’s 13 years in power.

“How many universities have been established there? How many new hospitals have been built? How much has the healthcare system improved? What facilities have actually been provided to the people? And how much corruption has taken place in the process?” he asked.

The prime minister also questioned whether public funds had been utilised transparently for the welfare and betterment of the people of KP.

“From Peshawar to Kohistan and Hazara, and across the entire southern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the majority of people would tell you that the PTI government has done very little, if anything, to address their basic needs,” he said.

The premier maintained that by 2017-18, terrorist activities in the province had been brought to an end to “a considerable extent”.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was among the provinces that made the greatest sacrifices in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

The prime minister highlighted the heavy toll terrorism had taken on the country, saying around 80,000 people had lost their lives and Pakistan’s economy had suffered losses estimated at Rs15,000 billion.

He also praised former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif for his policies to combat terrorism following the 2014 Army Public School tragedy, in which more than 140 students and teachers were killed.�" DAWN