In partnership with
Profit
KP CM DEMANDS RELEASE OF ‘CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED’ FUNDS, WARNS OF FISCAL CRISIS Tuesday, 27 January, 2026 | 7 Sha’ban, 1447
g
KP CM ACCUSES CENTRE OF WITHHOLDING CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED FUNDS
MERGED DISTRICTS HIT HARDEST DESPITE ALLOCATION OF RS292B, CLAIMS CM KP
K
g
PESHAWAR
staff report
HYBER Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accusing the federal government of a “persistent failure” to release constitutionally guaranteed funds and demanding the “full and unconditional” payment of all outstanding federal dues to the province. Since assuming office in October last year, Afridi has repeatedly alleged that the Centre has delayed the release of funds allocated for KP, particularly those meant for the merged districts under the National Finance Commission (NFC). In his letter, the chief minister said
he was compelled to place on record the “deep and mounting concern” of the KP government over the continued withholding of federal transfers, warning that the situation had triggered an acute fiscal and governance crisis in the province. Afridi said the KP budget for fiscal year 2025-26 was framed strictly in line with constitutional entitlements, including net hydel profit, oil and gas royalties, post-merger NFC shares and regular monthly NFC releases. “These were not discretionary assumptions but binding fiscal obligations,” he stressed, adding that actual releases had consistently fallen short of budgeted levels. Of particular concern, he said, was the withholding of routine monthly NFC transfers, a practice that “finds no sanction in the Constitution and strikes at the
g
g
Rs 50.00 | Vol XVI No 203 | 44 Pages | Islamabad Edition
SAYS SHORTFALL OF RS54.4B DISRUPTS BUDGET EXECUTION AND SERVICE DELIVERY
AFRIDI URGES PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF OUTSTANDING NFC, ROYALTIES, AND HYDEL FUNDS
core of cooperative federalism”. According to the chief minister, KP was entitled to receive Rs658.4 billion under the NFC but had so far received only Rs604bn, resulting in a shortfall of Rs54.4bn. He said the gap had directly impaired cash management, disrupted budget execution and constrained service delivery in key sectors. Afridi said the impact was most severe in the merged districts, where development and stabilisation were national priorities. Despite a provincial allocation of Rs292bn, federal releases stood at just Rs56bn, he said, undermining essential public services and weakening the objectives of the merger. He added that the fiscal strain came at a time when KP remained on the frontline of counter-terrorism operations
and was also bearing extraordinary costs related to flood response, rehabilitation and the management of temporarily displaced persons. “These are national responsibilities, yet the financial burden continues to be borne disproportionately by the province,” he said. Calling for immediate corrective action, the KP CM urged the federal government to release all outstanding dues, including monthly NFC transfers, net hydel profit, oil and gas royalties and funds for the merged districts, in line with constitutional provisions. Any further delay, he warned, would compound fiscal stress and weaken governance capacity, urging the prime minister to take up the matter with “urgent and personal attention”.
PM for establishment of international standard gemstone centers to help boost exports ISLAMABAD
staff report
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to utilize the full potential of Pakistan’s gemstone reserves to earn valuable foreign exchange through enhanced exports and set a deadline of August 2027 for the completion of the Islamabad Gemstone Center. Chairing a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s House here to review the promotion of the gemstone and minerals sector, the prime minister ordered the engagement of internationally renowned experts
for the construction of proposed Gemstone Centers in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a Prime Minister’s Office news release said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the implementation of the policy framework must be ensured with the assistance of global experts. “Value addition in the gemstone industry is the key to increasing our national exports,” the PM remarked, further directing that these centers be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and modern machinery. During the briefing, it was revealed that a site on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad has already been identified for the center. The facility will offer interna-
tional-standard value addition services, certification, an incubation center, and a trade center. To facilitate exporters, offices of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will also be established within the premises. The meeting was informed that four consultative sessions have been held with stakeholders regarding the newly approved Gemstone Policy. Furthermore, work on a scientific roadmap for geo-fencing gemstone deposits has commenced. The prime minister stressed the need for close collaboration between the federal government and the provincial governments, as well as the administrations of GB and AJK.
IN TODAY’S ISSUE
ATTENTION Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint. Contact: 0307-7338168
TTAP decries jailing of Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chatta as ‘dictatorship’, demands verdict reversal irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
ISLAMABAD
staff Correspondent
The Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Monday strongly condemned the prison sentences handed to lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse Hadi Ali Chatta, declaring that “dictatorship has been imposed in Pakistan.” The condemnation came as a TTAP delegation visited Imaan’s mother, former federal minister Shireen Mazari, to express solidarity with the jailed couple. A post shared by the alliance on X showed TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokar and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan among those present. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gohar Ali Khan denounced the arrests, trial and convictions, alleging grave violations of due process. “We have always opposed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Voices cannot be suppressed, and nations cannot be silenced by suppressing voices,” he said. Gohar said the family had informed the delegation that they had no contact with Imaan, drawing parallels with PTI founder Imran Khan’s situation, who, he claimed, was also being denied meetings with family members. He warned that such verdicts foster lawlessness and encourage vigilante justice. “We condemn this judgment and demand that their cases be fixed for hearing, their convictions overturned and their sentences suspended,” Gohar said, adding that he hoped the chief justice of Pakistan would take notice of the case and other matters involving restrictions on speech and violations of fundamental rights. TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokar said the alliance condemned the arrest of Imaan and Hadi and the denial of their constitutional rights, including the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression.