National ( The cow news digital ) Former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur launched a sharp critique of his own government’s budget during a heated speech in the provincial assembly, calling attention to what he described as structural flaws, unrealistic planning, and poor financial prioritization.
Speaking on the budget floor, Gandapur said that several development schemes included in the fiscal plan were so underfunded that they would take decades to complete. He specifically pointed out that large-scale projects such as the “Khushal Hazara” initiative had been allocated insufficient resources, suggesting they could take up to a century to finish under current funding patterns.
“New people may be misled, but I cannot be fooled. I understand the complexities of budgets,” he remarked, emphasizing his experience with financial planning over the years. He claimed that excessive “throw-forward” liabilities had created a situation where ongoing projects were being stretched far beyond reasonable timelines, turning them into long-term burdens for lawmakers.
Gandapur acknowledged what he termed administrative shortcomings in securing provincial rights from the federal government. He stressed that constitutional mechanisms such as the National Finance Commission (NFC) award should be implemented on a population-based formula and called for greater recognition of the sacrifices made by residents of former tribal areas.
He also criticized uneven fund allocation across sectors, stating that agriculture, which supports a significant portion of the province’s population, had been underfunded despite its importance to livelihoods. According to him, such imbalances reflect poor planning and ineffective governance.
During his address, the former chief minister also highlighted concerns regarding public welfare initiatives, including the Sehat Card program. He said the scheme, originally aligned with the vision of PTI’s founder, had faced interruptions but was later restored. He proposed the creation of a dedicated provincial insurance company to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Gandapur further criticized what he described as political favoritism in development spending, admitting that past policies had sometimes excluded opposition constituencies from funding allocations. He termed this approach a mistake and called for a more equitable distribution of resources.
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On broader political matters, he reiterated that governance challenges in Pakistan stem from a lack of institutional fairness and rising political polarization. He urged lawmakers to reduce hostility and focus on national development rather than political rivalry.
The speech concluded with a call for unity and institutional reform, as Gandapur emphasized that economic stability and public welfare could only be achieved through transparent governance and fair resource distribution.
