Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohai  Afridi, while addressing a ceremony held in connection with World Food Safety Day, said that raising public awareness about safe food and promoting responsible behavior is a key need of the time.

He said that the establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety Authority has significantly improved the supply of healthy and safe food across the province. The Chief Minister added that the importance of the Food Department has further increased as the province is not yet self-sufficient in wheat production.

Sohai  Afridi said that planning is underway to achieve food self-sufficiency, and relevant departments have been issued necessary directives. He added that the food department’s budget will be increased in the upcoming fiscal year, along with the construction of modern storage facilities.

He expressed optimism that by 2030, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would achieve self-sufficiency in several sectors.

Referring to intergovernmental issues, the Chief Minister alleged that the “Punjab government” had stopped wheat supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that repeated correspondence had gone unanswered. He also remarked that when power is given to those with only 17 seats, public interest is not prioritized.

Highlighting infrastructure concerns, he said the provincial government had allocated Rs 3 billion for the CRBC project, but the federal government had not provided any funding. He claimed that the federal share was initially set at 80 percent, later reduced to 65 percent, but ultimately no allocation was made.

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He further said that the Northern Bypass project was being financed through Rs 4 billion in bridge financing by the provincial government. The Chief Minister added that the Peshawar Bus Terminal had been completed, but the National Highway Authority (NHA) was not issuing a No Objection Certificate for the access road.

He also stated that the Swat Dam project is ready, but the federal government has not issued NOCs for visits by foreign engineers.

Sohai  Afridi alleged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being subjected to discriminatory treatment, warning that such practices could increase resentment among the people.

Referring to constitutional rights, he said that according to the Constitution, a gas-producing province has the first right over its resources. He claimed that although the province produces over 500 MMCFD of gas, only 150 MMCFD is being utilized locally, adding that the federal government has restricted gas supply, severely affecting the middle class.

He concluded that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are bearing the cost of flawed federal policies.