PESHAWAR: In an uncommon display of consensus, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi jointly criticized the federal government on Monday for its decision to suspend gas supplies to the province, calling on Islamabad to respect KP’s constitutional rights.
During a press conference in Peshawar, Governor Kundi expressed concern over the gas supply disruption, emphasizing that the province’s resources are being exploited without fair compensation. He stated, “According to Article 158 of the Constitution, gas-producing regions have the primary right over their natural resources.”
Chief Minister Afridi echoed these sentiments, warning that the people of KP are being pushed into hardship due to opaque decision-making processes. He accused the federal government of acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally in several development initiatives, including the withholding of Rs12 billion allocated for the tribal districts’ development.
“The suspension of gas in KP is illegal,” Afridi asserted, urging all relevant authorities to desist from unconstitutional actions against the province. He also called for a joint strategy to restore peace, suggesting that resolving political interference could help achieve stability within 100 days.
Kundi questioned the fairness of the federal stance, reminding that KP supplies affordable energy and mineral resources to the entire country. “If we get our water share, we won’t need to buy wheat,” he added, urging authorities to address the resource distribution issues.
The governor further highlighted the sacrifices made by KP in its fight against terrorism, warning that withholding provincial rights would perpetuate injustice. “Our people have borne the burden of petrol and electricity shortages, and now CNG supplies are being cut,” he remarked. He appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene swiftly and resolve the ongoing issues.
CM Afridi Addresses CNG Crisis, Seeks Federal Intervention
In a separate move, CM Sohail Afridi sent a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanding urgent action to restore gas supplies to the province. He pointed out that KP produces approximately 494 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas, but only consumes around 120 mmcfd.
The letter highlighted that the CNG sector, which depends heavily on this resource, requires about 36 to 40 mmcfd, but the gas has been redirected to the fertilizer industry. Afridi warned that continued suspension could trigger unrest and law and order problems, especially given the sector’s importance for transportation.
He urged the federal government to convene a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to address the issue and restore the gas supply to the CNG industry without delay.
Attaullah Tarar Criticizes KP’s Governance
In response, Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar criticized KP’s administrative functioning, claiming there is “no effective governance” in the province. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he alleged that corruption and mismanagement are rampant, with public funds being misused on political agendas.
Tarar also questioned the recent expansion of KP’s cabinet, asserting that the selection process lacked transparency and was driven by incompetence. He further questioned whether enlarging the cabinet would improve governance after over ten years of rule, suggesting that the province’s problems persist regardless.
