PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi pledged to protect residents’ rights to KP mineral resources and other provincial assets in remarks published on Sunday.
Addressing a ceremony in Peshawar, Kundi said outside companies could invest through joint ventures with local people. He rejected the idea of foreigners exploiting the province’s wealth.
“The people of the province will have the first right to its resources,” he said. His remarks followed allegations by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Rehman accused the federal government of imposing governor’s rule and emergency measures to gain control of the province’s resources.
He also questioned its mineral policies during a National Assembly session. Kundi did not name those allegations directly. Instead, he said protecting residents was his top priority.
The federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule on October 11, citing the provincial administration’s failure to cooperate against terrorism.
Parliament approved the measures on October 15 despite opposition protests. Kundi described KP as Pakistan’s largest oil-producing and second-largest gas-producing province.
Read: Tarar Says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Emergency Possible if Required
He also cited electricity generation, tourism, minerals and tobacco among its resources. The governor discussed Rs160 billion in development funding pledged by the federal government.
He said 70% would go to 12 districts under the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC). The remaining 30% would support other districts.
Kundi assured residents of the merged districts that they would receive their rightful share of the funding. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents will have the first right to provincial resources and outside investors may participate through joint ventures.
