Latest news with #K-P
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PTI chief's order stalls K-P budget
A directive from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Patron-in-Chief not to approve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) budget without prior consultation with him has become a serious constitutional and administrative challenge for the provincial government. The government now finds itself caught between the leader's directive and constitutional obligations. According to the schedule, the K-P budget must be approved by June 24. Failure to do so before the end of the current fiscal year could empower the Governor to ask the Chief Minister to seek a vote of confidence, or even advise the President to impose economic emergency under Article 234 of the Constitution. The government has held multiple sessions with constitutional experts to resolve the impasse, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far. The PTI Patron-in-Chief had expressed a desire to meet with K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Finance Advisor Muzzammil Aslam, and other economic experts regarding the budget. However, prison authorities allowed him to meet only the chief minister. In response, the PTI leader issued strict instructions: no budget approval without full consultation with economic advisors. Although the budget has been presented in the K-P Assembly, the party leadership has yet to be consulted. Chief Minister Gandapur has reiterated his stance that the budget will not be passed without explicit approval from the party chief. As debate on the budget continues, approval of departmental demands for grants is scheduled to begin today. According to parliamentary procedures, approving these demands effectively means passing the budget. Meanwhile, the government has again consulted legal experts. Constitutional experts warn that if the budget is not passed by June 30, it would be considered a failure of the government. Under such circumstances, the Governor can invoke Article 234 and advise the President to impose economic emergency, citing both financial and constitutional crises. Additionally, the Governor may direct the Chief Minister to seek a vote of confidence, and the President could refer the matter to the National Assembly. Law Minister Aftab Alam told The Express Tribune that the government is trying its best to ensure timely budget approval in accordance with the schedule. However, he emphasized that the PTI leader's directive stands: no approval without prior consultation. He warned that if a crisis emerges, the federal government would bear responsibility for denying access to the party leadership. The Provincial Assembly Secretariat, when contacted, stated that it is following the approved schedule, and it is the government's responsibility to ensure the budget's timely passage.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gulf crisis: Imran defers protest for 2 weeks
In view of an ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, PTI Parton-in-Chief Imran Khan has decided to defer his party's planned protest movement by two weeks, said the former prime minister's sisters on Tuesday after a meeting with him at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. "Imran Khan has postponed the protest movement for two weeks in light of global circumstances," said Noreen Khanum and Uzma Khan while talking to the media outside the prison. According to them, the nation is awaiting statements from the prime minister, the president, and the field marshal regarding Pakistan's policy on the conflict. On June 1, Imran announced the launch of a nationwide protest movement against the PML-N-led ruling coalition, declaring that he would lead the campaign from behind bars. The announcement was conveyed by PTI Senator Ali Zafar following his meeting with Imran. Addressing the media outside the prison, the senator had said the former PM had decided that the waiting game was over and the party would now take to the streets in a well-organised countrywide campaign. However, he had not disclosed when the movement would be started. Noreen noted that although the PTI founder had not met anyone for a week, he was well-informed about international affairs. "He said global developments will affect Pakistan and that all Pakistanis must unite at this time," adding that Imran is concerned over both internal and external situations. She said Imran Khan called the proposed budget elite-culture-driven and pro-rich. "Conditions for the poor have deteriorated significantly. The salaried class is bearing the entire tax burden, and poverty will further increase. "33 lakh (3.3 million) educated people have left Pakistan in the past three years. Each person who leaves takes about $30,000 with them, causing also a loss of foreign exchange." She said Imran Khan has instructed that K-P's budget will only be passed after his consultation with K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur and other PTI leaders who are scheduled to meet him.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P utilises Rs120b ADP budget for current fiscal
K-P Chief Minister's Advisor on Finance and Interprovincial Coordination Muzzammil Aslam told the K-P Assembly that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government not only successfully completed the Annual Development Program (ADP) worth Rs120 billion for the ongoing fiscal but also incurred development expenditures exceeding Rs150 billion. Responding to questions during the provincial assembly's budget session, the CM's aide said the current government, prioritizing public welfare, introduced financial reforms, curtailed expenditures, increased revenues, and succeeded in presenting a surplus budget — a first in the province's history. He further noted that the government had secured Rs150 billion in a debt fund to gradually pay off the province's debts. The finance advisor emphasized the need for the federal government to fulfill the province's financial rights, adding that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had forcefully and effectively advocated for the protection of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's constitutional and financial rights in relation to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. As a result of these efforts, positive outcomes are emerging, and the federal government is now preparing to announce the 11th NFC Award, said Aslam. Drawing attention to the challenges in the education sector, he highlighted that although the out-of-school children situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was better than in other provinces, 30% of children in the province were still out of school — a concerning reality. In light of this, the government is declaring an "education emergency" to ensure that every child has access to education, the K-P CM advisor said.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P fully met IMF targets, says CM
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said the K-P government has fully met the International Monetary Fund (IMF) targets while it is working on a dedicated provincial power transmission line to provide locally produced electricity to industries at subsidized rates. Over the next three years, 500 MW of hydropower projects will be completed. To support energy needs at the grassroots level, 132,000 deserving households will be provided solar systems free of cost or at subsidized rates, the K-P CM added. He shared these views during a meeting with a delegation of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), led by its newly elected President Kazim Khan. Gandapur revealed that the province's own revenues stood at Rs125 billion. He highlighted that the current provincial government exercised strict financial discipline and effective monitoring, which enabled the establishment of a Debt Management Fund with an investment of Rs150 billion during the current fiscal year, with another Rs150 billion are to be added in the next fiscal year, generating significant profit for the province. Talking about the province's Annual Development Programme (ADP), the CM noted that the throw-forward of the ADP stood at 13.5 years when his government took over, which has now been reduced to four years. He said that due to poor planning in the past, delays in the completion of development projects over the last 15 years led to cost escalations amounting to a loss of Rs450 billion. The current government has prioritized the completion of ongoing schemes over launching new ones, successfully completing 541 development projects during the past year. He added that the government has presented a balanced and progressive budget for 2025-26 fiscal year. Gandapur said the new ADP will lay the foundation for projects to be completed within the next three years. A total of Rs195 billion has been allocated for the ADP in the next fiscal year, which will be enhanced to Rs250 billion. For the current fiscal year, Rs120 billion was allocated, all of which has been released, followed by an additional Rs35 billion under ADP Plus. Discussing his government's 15-month performance, the K-P chief minister mentioned that Rs72 billion in arrears were cleared across various departments, including public universities.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
K-P proposes hike in traffic fines under new budget
Listen to article The KhyberPakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has proposed substantial increases in traffic violation fines under its Finance Bill for 2025-26, with a particular focus on regulating three-wheelers and curbing underage driving. For the first time, a separate category has been created for three-wheeled vehicles, including rickshaws and loaders, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Tuesday. Fines for these vehicles will range from Rs200 to Rs10,000 depending on the nature of the violation. Non-compliance with route permits will incur a penalty of Rs5,000, which will be doubled for repeat offenders. Read More: K-P proposes Rs157b surplus in Rs2.1tr budget The bill also proposes stricter action against the use of fraudulent driving licences. Individuals found driving with fake documents may face fines between Rs5,000 and Rs10,000. Penalties for underage driving have also been revised. Fines for motorcycle riders under the age of 18 will increase from Rs1,000 to Rs3,000, while underage drivers of small cars will face fines of Rs5,000, up from the current Rs2,000. Officials said the proposed measures are aimed at improving road safety and traffic discipline across the province.
