Khyber Pakhtunkhwa water shortage crisis
"Due to terrorism and water shortage in the tehsil of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, residents are forced to migrate, while the Chief Minister of the province is unable to initiate development projects in his tehsil," stated Ehsanullah Khan, an elected Member of Parliament from the Pakistan People's Party, during the budget session held in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday.
Addressing the budget meeting, Khan expressed that despite being elected from the Chief Minister's constituency, the situation remains dire. "The world has reached the moon, but drinking water is still scarce in Darazandah, while terrorism is on the rise. Residents are being forced to relocate. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf claims reforms, but in the CM's native area, women are still fetching potable water from far away," he said.
He further highlighted the dire state of healthcare in the area. "A Type D hospital was established in Darazandah Tehsil of DI, but it remains closed due to lack of facilities. I reject the budget and the BRT subsidy until drinking water is made available in my area. Due to the negligence of the irrigation department, 3 to 4 lakh acres of land cannot be irrigated," Khan added.
Sajjad Khan, an Assembly Member from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, discussed the increasing deprivation in Lower Kohistan. He stated, "Our district has been greatly affected by climate change. People in my constituency struggle for two meals a day while those in Peshawar fight over meat. PTI has always talked about change, so bring positive change. A special package should be allocated in the budget for Lower Kohistan and a special coordination committee should be formed to secure funds from the federation."
Jalal Khan, a Member of Parliament from the Muslim League-N, criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members during the budget session. "When I joined the assembly, I expected to learn, but what I saw were members fighting like kindergarten students. How did the budget become surplus with 114 billion in foreign projects unpaid and 30 billion taken from GP funds for the Swat Expressway? Has the GP fund money been returned? The uncertainty among PMS and PS employees due to their deputation is spreading. Drug addiction is increasing in my constituency, Hayatabad, and drug dealers should be hanged at intersections," he asserted.
Shehla Bano of the Muslim League-N condemned the provincial government's handling of the budget. "The government itself says the budget is illegal, so why is it being passed? The inquiries into the BRT and Billion Tree projects have been closed, and the public should be informed about the corruption involved. Corruption is rampant in hospitals. Those who attack the state should be jailed, not garlanded with flowers," she remarked.
Makhdoom Aftab, discussing the budget session, pointed out the adverse impact of taxes on property work in the province. "Property tax should be reduced to 2 percent. The health card project is good, but no one is revealing how much private hospitals are profiting from it. PTI is presenting its 11th budget; how much has been borrowed and repaid over these years?" he questioned.
PTI Member of Provincial Assembly and Advisor on Tourism, Zahid Chanzeb, addressed the meeting saying, "Nineteen hotels of PTDC in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were under the Department of Tourism, and 17 were handed over to the army by the caretaker government. Goods worth crores of rupees are being wasted. We are now looking for a warehouse to protect them. PTI is ready to account for its 10 years in power if the opposition parties bring evidence of corruption."
Azam Khan added, "Unconstitutional actions have been taken during the caretaker period, and an inquiry should be conducted. The caretaker government has robbed the poor. The federal government announced customs and tax enforcement in Malakand starting June 30. It was promised for a hundred years that taxes and customs would not be imposed, with this period ending in 2060.
