National ( The cow news digital ) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohel Afridi has said that the Swat Dam project is fully ready for implementation but is being delayed due to the federal government’s failure to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for foreign engineers required to visit the site.
Speaking at a ceremony marking World Food Safety Day, the chief minister stressed the importance of public awareness regarding safe food practices and responsible consumption. He said the establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety Authority has significantly improved the supply of hygienic food across the province.
Afridi highlighted that food security remains a major challenge as the province is not self-sufficient in wheat production. He said planning is underway to achieve greater food self-reliance, with instructions already issued to relevant departments to accelerate progress in this area. He added that the upcoming provincial budget will include increased allocations for the food department and the construction of modern storage facilities. He expressed optimism that by 2030, the province would achieve self-sufficiency in several key sectors.
The chief minister also criticized federal policies, alleging that wheat supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been disrupted. He claimed repeated correspondence with federal authorities had gone unanswered and accused the federal government of failing to provide funding for key development projects.
Referring to the Cholistan Right Bank Canal project, Afridi said the provincial government had allocated PKR 3 billion, while the federal government had not contributed its promised share despite earlier commitments. He also stated that federal funding obligations were gradually reduced over time, ultimately resulting in no allocation in the current budget.
He added that the provincial government had provided PKR 4 billion in bridge financing for the Northern Bypass project, while the Peshawar Bus Terminal has been completed but awaits clearance from the National Highway Authority for access routes.
Afridi further alleged that the federal government was withholding NOCs required for the Swat Dam project, claiming that restrictions on foreign engineers’ visits were causing unnecessary delays. He described these actions as discriminatory and warned that such policies could deepen public grievances.
On energy matters, the chief minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces over 500 million cubic feet of gas per day but is only allowed to consume around 150 million cubic feet. He alleged that restrictions on gas usage have severely impacted the middle class in the province.
Afridi concluded that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are bearing the cost of what he termed flawed federal policies, urging a fair and constitutional distribution of resources among provinces.
