Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday agreed to frame joint efforts to curb terrorism and strengthen coordination between the federal and provincial governments, as the two leaders held their first formal meeting at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Monday.
The meeting concluded in a cordial atmosphere, with the prime minister stressing the need for close cooperation between the centre and the province to ensure peace, stability and development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PM Shehbaz underscored that federal-provincial collaboration was indispensable for maintaining law and order in the province and said that provincial efforts to combat terrorism needed to be further intensified.
The prime minister emphasised that the provincial government should strengthen its institutions to effectively counter terrorism and reiterated that both the federal and provincial governments would continue joint efforts for the complete eradication of terrorism.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a vital unit of the federation and assured that the federal government would continue to extend full support, within its constitutional domain, for the prosperity and welfare of the province’s people.
PM Shehbaz also highlighted that the provincial government must fulfil its constitutional responsibilities, particularly in maintaining peace and ensuring public welfare.
He noted that the province had the authority to take concrete steps in sectors such as health and education and stressed the importance of effective governance in these areas.
The PM added that national development and public service required close coordination and effective communication between the federation and the provinces.
The prime minister assured the chief minister of federal cooperation in development projects, infrastructure improvement, education, healthcare and employment generation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the federal government believed in moving forward with all provinces under a vision of balanced and uniform development, adding that national unity, stability and prosperity could be achieved through mutual consultation and collective action.
Following the meeting, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi while talking to media strongly condemned terrorism wherever it occurs, stating that all Pakistanis must unequivocally denounce such acts.
Speaking to the media, he said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had invited him for the meeting and that attending it was a constitutional requirement of the office he holds. He said he had presented the concerns of his province and its people during the discussion.
CM Afridi said that discussions with the prime minister covered provincial issues, the security situation and a joint strategy to address terrorism.
He added that he had expressed condolences to the prime minister over the recent Balochistan incident. Afridi announced that another meeting with the prime minister would also be held in the coming days.
Clarifying political speculation, the chief minister said no political matters were discussed during the meeting, nor was there any discussion regarding a meeting with the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
He declared that Tuesday was designated for lawyers and family members to meet the PTI founder Imran Khan and that he would not be visiting Adiala Jail.
Afridi said that all matters related to the National Finance Commission (NFC) and funding were placed before the prime minister, noting that people were making sacrifices for peace.
He stated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had so far spent Rs26 billion on the merged districts. He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and others to immediately coordinate with provincial officials, saying that the sacrifices of people in Tirah, Kurram and Bajaur could not be addressed with a mere Rs4 billion.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at the Prime Minister’s House, with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Federal Minister Engineer Ameer Muqam also present.
The meeting marked their first formal interaction since Afridi assumed office and followed reports that the chief minister had previously declined to visit the Prime Minister’s House.
