Summary Safe city projects and counterterrorism capacity among key priorities
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – The federal government will provide Rs160 billion for development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday, pledging additional support to strengthen security and combat terrorism across the province.
The prime minister said important decisions had been taken to accelerate development work and improve law enforcement. He also directed officials to speed up delayed projects, strengthen police capabilities and make counterterrorism operations more effective.
Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement during a meeting in Peshawar with a development council comprising representatives of the merged tribal districts and tribal elders. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the meeting.
Tribal representatives thanked the prime minister for giving special attention to the situation in KP. They said residents had faced problems for 13 years and pledged their full cooperation in efforts to address the province’s challenges.
The elders also said people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had experienced a sense of relief and distributed sweets.
Development funding
Addressing the gathering, Shehbaz Sharif praised tribal communities for their longstanding support for Pakistan and their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
He said tribal residents had endured deep wounds and significant hardships but had never wavered in their commitment to the country. The prime minister said their sacrifices were deeply valued.
He added that the emergency might not have been necessary had peace prevailed in the tribal districts, highlighting the importance of restoring security alongside development.
The prime minister pledged that federal resources would be made available to support development initiatives and strengthen security arrangements throughout KP. He said every rupee of public money would be spent on development and prosperity, adding that alleged misappropriation of provincial resources would be addressed.
Shehbaz Sharif also said a 40-member elected tribal council would be given full authority, with the federal government providing assistance for development activities and the delivery of justice in tribal areas.
Security measures
The prime minister said the federal government would provide all necessary resources for the fight against terrorism. He called for improvements in police training and operational capacity, while directing officials to make the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) more effective.
He said shortcomings had emerged in security operations and police performance in the province over the past 13 years. He also instructed law enforcement agencies to respond promptly to theft and robbery incidents and ensure the arrest of suspects.
Shehbaz Sharif said instructions had been issued to complete Safe City projects, which are intended to strengthen surveillance and security infrastructure. He also ordered officials to accelerate development schemes where progress had been slow.
The prime minister further pledged to ensure that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received the wheat it required, warning against hoarding that could disrupt supplies.
Corruption allegations
PM Shehbaz raised concerns over alleged corruption in KP, claiming that irregularities had affected multiple development schemes and deprived the province of resources.
He alleged that a Rs100 billion scandal had emerged involving drinking water projects, while a separate fraud case in Kohistan involved Rs37 billion.
The prime minister accused those responsible of widespread corruption and the misuse of provincial resources, saying measures would be taken to prevent the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
