Gandapur vows welfare-focused budget, claims KP now financially independent

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Wednesday claimed that KP is now in its strongest economic position yet, crediting his government’s "good governance" for turning around a province he said was previously in dire financial straits, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Wednesday.

Speaking to the media following a high-level budget meeting, Gandapur said the upcoming provincial budget will focus on welfare, agriculture, industry, and the environment, asserting that KP’s economic revival has made it possible to craft a development-oriented financial plan.

“We received the province in very bad condition, but in the past one and a half years, we have put it back on its feet,” said Gandapur. “We’ve not only ensured financial stability, but we have also created a debt repayment fund that already holds Rs 1.5 billion. So far, we’ve paid off Rs 50 billion of the province’s debt.”

He further stated that KP is now receiving its rightful share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, and that the matter of tobacco revenue and other inter-provincial financial concerns will be taken up in the next Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting. An NFC meeting is scheduled for August, he added.

Highlighting the province's recent progress, Gandapur emphasised that financial independence is no longer just a goal but a reality for KP, and that both the federation and the province stand to benefit from this fiscal balance.