News
October 23, 2026
PM Vows to Bring Back Progress to KP
Peshawar: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday vowed that the federal government, which now runs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under governor’s rule, would make every effort possible to “bring back” progress to the province.
He made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the apex committee in Peshawar, where he arrived earlier in the day on his first visit to the province since the imposition of governor’s rule and the declaration of emergency on Oct 11.
The meeting, attended by Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, reviewed KP’s overall security situation. Federal ministers and newly appointed provincial advisers were also present.
Addressing the committee, PM Shehbaz reiterated that emergency and governor’s rule had to be imposed “under extreme compulsion”.
“I promise that we will leave no stone unturned in bringing back the happiness and era of progress to this province, and in the practical realization of the wishes, aspirations, and dreams of this province’s people that have been shattered due to the worst actions of recent years,” he said.
The prime minister affirmed that the Center “will place all possible resources at your feet”.
He added that he himself, the Advisory Council led by the governor, the president and the CDF “will ensure that this province, once again, not only matches the other provinces in the race for development, but moves even further ahead”.
The prime minister regretted that “terrorists were summoned back here” after peace had been established, “washing down all sacrifices down the drain”.
“There can be no greater enmity with the country than not honoring and respecting such sacrifices, not holding them in esteem,” he remarked, highlighting that young soldiers left their homes and families to defend their country.
The premier called for an “all-encompassing analysis as to why this happened”, adding that there was “no worse callousness, criminal negligence, and hostility towards the national interest than this”.
He said: “All issues of the people were pushed aside — whether it is education, healthcare, or protecting the lives and property of the people — and [having] matters with terrorists instead. I believe that no other example can be found of such hostility against the country, in terms of their attitudes, detachment, and callousness.”
PM Shehbaz asserted that 5,000 police vacancies were not filled, Safe City projects were yet to be completed, the capacity of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had not been enhanced significantly, and neither were special measures taken regarding police training.
He recalled that all provinces had agreed at the time of the 2010 National Finance Commission Award that KP, being the front-line region in combatting terrorism, needed ample resources.
“From 2010 to today, more than Rs800 billion in funds have either already been provided or are being provided under this,” he stressed.
“However, not only did it resurface, but the weapons needed to counter terrorism, the required capacity, and the trained officers needed were nowhere to be found.” - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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