Sherpao underscores need for improvement in Pak-Afghan relations

Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has called for nurturing brotherly relations with neighbouring Afghanistan saying that both the countries have religious, social and cultural affinities that cannot be ignored.
Speaking at a largely-attended ceremony on joining by newcomers in Takhtbhai (Mardan) he emphasised that brotherly relations with Afghanistan would ensure peace and stability in the entire region with enduring and sustainable prospects for development.
Aftab Sherpao said that certain enemies of Pakistan were trying to sabotage the relations between the two countries and federal government should adopt measures ensuring peaceful and dignified return of the Afghan refugees to their country.
"We have served our Afghan brothers for decades and now we are at risk of turning decades of hospitality into enmity.
We cannot allow foes of Pakistan to succeed in their nefarious designs by isolating Pakistan in the region," he said.
QWP chief also criticised the federal govt for its indifference towards the rights and needs of the smaller federating units adding that such an attitude was promoting consternation among the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He urged that in order to ensure a strong and stable federation, the federal government should put an end to the exploitation of resources in the smaller provinces.
Sherpao urged the federal government to develop the backward areas by providing due share in the CPEC project. He also demanded uniform development in Pakistan.
He said that development in certain areas at the cost of smaller provinces was not in the interests of the federation.
Sherpao criticised the federal government for delay in provision of the net hydel profit arrears, ignoring the Pakhtoon belt in the CPEC-related development projects and depriving the KP share in the revenue from the province's natural resources such as oil and gas. He termed these policies as main cause behind backwardness of Pakhtoons and the basic reason that was threatening national unity in the country.
The Chairman also demanded that the federal government should hold censes in the country because that was needed for fair future planning that could not be made possible without census. He was sure that census in the country would also ensure just division of the resources in the country thereby strengthening the federation.