Ex-KP Governor urges Centre, provinces to present people-friendly budgets

PESHAWAR: Former Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali has urged the federal and provincial governments to ensure that this year’s budgets are genuinely people-centric rather than being based on political slogans and rhetoric.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Haji Ghulam Ali a former Senator and president Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI), he stressed that special emphasis should be placed on introducing public-friendly policies in the energy sector.

He called for the inclusion of special packages aimed at promoting employment opportunities and business activities for the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that such measures would help revive economic growth and prosperity in a province severely affected by terrorism.

He urged the KP government to focus on addressing the province’s resources and challenges and provide relief to the public instead of prioritizing political rallies and demonstrations. He added that political issues should be resolved through political means in the broader interest of the country and the nation.

The former Governor called upon both the federal and provincial governments to take urgent and practical measures to provide immediate and meaningful relief to the public.

He noted that the people of Pakistan, particularly those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are facing severe challenges, including inflation, unemployment, prolonged electricity and gas load-shedding, law and order concerns, and terrorism, all of which have made daily life increasingly difficult.

Haji Ghulam Ali said that mere announcements, claims, and statements are no longer sufficient to address public grievances. He said that people now expect concrete actions and visible results. He urged policymakers to incorporate practical and effective measures in the upcoming budgets that would provide direct and immediate benefits to citizens.

He pointed out that the continuous increase in electricity, gas, and essential commodity prices has significantly worsened the hardships faced by middle- and low-income households. According to him, millions of families are struggling to pay their monthly electricity and gas bills. He urged the government to adopt consumer-friendly energy policies, substantially reduce tariffs, and permanently address the issue of load-shedding.

The former Governor further stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the province most affected by the war against terrorism and therefore deserves a special package focused on restoring peace, creating employment opportunities for young people, and promoting business activities. He stressed that public welfare should remain the foremost priority of both federal and provincial governments.

He warned that failure to address inflation, unemployment, and security challenges on an urgent basis could further increase public frustration. The need of the hour, he said, is for governments to move beyond political slogans and differences and take serious, effective, and result-oriented measures to alleviate public hardships and provide genuine relief.

Criticizing the reported allocation of Rs8 billion for the construction of residential facilities for the families of parliamentarians, Haji Ghulam Ali termed the move equivalent to “rubbing salt into the wounds” of the poor. He suggested that the funds should instead be utilized for a solar energy initiative aimed at helping low-income households overcome the burden of prolonged load-shedding.

He added that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) strongly advocates public welfare and firmly opposes what it considers extravagant governance practices. The party, he said, demands that the government take meaningful steps to provide relief to the people.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026