TIMERGARA – Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday said the challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be resolved through political confrontation and called for practical measures to address public issues.
Addressing a workers’ convention organised by Pakistan Peoples Party Lower Dir and the Peoples Students Federation in Timergara, the governor also opposed the imposition of taxes in the merged tribal districts of the former FATA and PATA regions.
He warned that any attempt to enforce such taxes would face strong resistance from his party.
A large number of party workers, youth activists and local leaders attended the convention. Among those who addressed the gathering were Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, Nawabzada Ahmad Zeb, Naeem Khan and Nawabzada Irfan Khan.
Faisal Kundi said the PPP believed in empowering young people and would ensure their effective participation in the upcoming local government elections.
Expressing concern over the law and order situation in the province, he criticised the provincial government’s approach towards militancy and said negotiations could not succeed with groups that did not recognise the Constitution and the writ of the state.
The governor also accused the provincial administration of failing to secure development funds linked to the merger of the former tribal districts and alleged that the province had been deprived of key public facilities and development projects as a result.
Criticising the provincial government’s environmental policies, he alleged that unchecked deforestation continued across the province and claimed the government had failed to effectively protect forest resources despite its “Billion Tree Tsunami” campaign.
Faisal Kundi further claimed that the restoration of wheat quota supplies from Punjab and the reopening of closed CNG stations had become possible through his personal efforts. Referring to internal differences within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, he alleged that divisions existed within the party leadership regarding Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
He also claimed that possible talks between Iran and the United States could take place in Islamabad, describing the development as potentially important for regional peace.
Other speakers at the convention described the PPP as a party representing youth and pledged to strengthen organisational activities across Lower Dir.
