ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday said Pakistan is in turmoil, accusing the federal government of sidelining both parliament and the public amid mounting economic challenges and rising regional instability linked to the Middle East crisis.
Speaking at a press conference alongside PTI KP president Junaid Akbar and the chief minister’s finance adviser Muzzammil Aslam, Afridi expressed frustration that neither Imran Khan nor his party had been consulted on key government decisions following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Afridi highlighted the cancellation of a scheduled meeting of the prime minister with provincial chief ministers on Wednesday, criticising the government for making decisions “behind closed doors” that impact the entire nation.
He also defended the PTI’s previous handling of economic measures, noting that policies now being implemented in the name of the energy crisis had already been introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and could have benefited from party consultation.
Afridi sharply criticised federal spending, citing $5 billion borrowed over seven months to purchase aircraft for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and hire foreign pilots, while Pakistan’s trade deficit exceeded $20 billion, agricultural growth remained negative, and many young Pakistanis sought opportunities abroad.
“At the time of the regime change, GDP growth stood at 6.1 per cent. Today, it has plummeted below 3 per cent,” he said, adding that industry, textiles, and exports are in “complete disarray,” with most public institutions operating at a loss.
He also condemned recent fuel price hikes, contrasting the current administration with PTI’s tenure.
“During our government, even when oil prices reached USD120 per barrel globally, petrol was Rs150 per litre. Today, it has risen to Rs322 per litre in just three years,” he said.
Defending his provincial government, Afridi said KP has exercised fiscal restraint, avoiding unnecessary expenditures, curbing bureaucratic perks, and moving government operations online to reduce the burden on the national treasury.
Junaid Akbar echoed Afridi’s criticism, accusing the federal government of undermining the province. He cited incomplete integration of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), arguing that responsibilities had been transferred to KP without corresponding resources.
He criticised mismanagement and nepotism at the federal level, highlighting personal expenditures and solar energy investments by the prime minister.
Muzzammil Aslam said Pakistan, and the world at large, is facing an emergency, yet PTI learns of key economic decisions through the media, reflecting the federal government’s “irresponsible attitude.”
Referring to a report that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would cut the development budget by Rs100 billion, he noted that even in recent years the lowest budget was Rs1,000 billion, higher under the PML-N government in 2017.
Referring to a media report that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif plans to cut the development budget by Rs100 billion, he noted that even in recent years the lowest development budget was Rs1,000 billion, which was higher still under the PML-N government in 2017.
“Even including the petroleum levy, the so-called subsidy does not exceed Rs20 billion.”
He detailed the levies: Rs105 from petroleum, Rs15-20 from customs duties, Rs2.5 from the climate levy, and Rs55 from diesel.
He added that a Rs60 billion tranche expected by March 15 for KP has yet to be released, exposing the federal government’s hollow claims of economic stability.
He also criticised the prime minister’s focus on cutting the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, noting that any reduction would disproportionately affect KP and Balochistan.
He said that if the NFC award were to be reduced, it should come from Sindh and Punjab, which together receive 78 per cent of the share, while Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa get only 22 per cent combined.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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