Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday held his first official meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, with both sides describing the engagement as constructive and necessary.
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi first met in a one-on-one session. This was followed by a delegation-level meeting in which matters between the federation and the province were discussed in detail.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam were also present during the talks.
Federal–provincial issues take center stage
According to officials, the delegation-level meeting focused on issues related to coordination between the federal government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said provincial concerns were discussed openly and placed before the government.
He added that Rs26 billion has already been invested and spent on development projects in the former FATA regions, underlining the scale of financial commitments made for the merged districts.
Condemnation of Balochistan incident
During his media interaction after the meeting, Afridi said the Balochistan incident was strongly condemned in the talks. He stressed that terrorism has no religion, no country and no province.
“All people should realize the sacrifices being made,” he said, emphasizing national unity in the fight against terrorism.
Chief Minister Afridi said the prime minister issued instructions to hold further meetings to resolve outstanding issues. He confirmed that the planning minister has been directed to sit down and hold discussions starting today.
KP Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam termed the outcome positive, saying, “Good news, progress has been made,” indicating forward movement after the meeting.
No political issues or negotiations discussed
Sohail Afridi clarified that no political issues were discussed during the meeting. He said there was no talk about any negotiations or about any meeting with the founder of PTI.
“This meeting was a requirement of the position,” the KP chief minister said, adding that all discussions remained focused on governance and provincial matters.
Addressing financial concerns, CM Afridi said the issue was not Rs4 billion but Rs5,300 billion, which should be brought to the fore. He stressed that no accusations were being made, adding that this assessment had been conveyed by the IMF.
He reiterated that all matters were clearly presented before the federal government during the meeting.
More meetings expected
Afridi said more meetings between the federation and the province will now take place. He added that if any decisions are made, they will be shared with the public at the appropriate time.
Officials described the first official meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the KP chief minister as a step toward improved coordination and dialogue between Islamabad and Peshawar.
