Warns against tax collection in tribal areas and challenges authorities to visit region and witness ground realities
Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi. Photo: Archive
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday made it clear that people in the erstwhile tribal areas would not pay taxes until they were given their due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, saying that issuing directives from Islamabad was much easier than implementing them on the ground.
In an interactive session organized by the KP Sports Writers Association at the Governor House, the governor criticized the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for its tax collection drive in the merged districts, questioning whether the FBR chairman had ever visited Waziristan, Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand or Parachinar to understand the plight of the local people.
“The state had promised us that it would spend Rs 100 billion annually on FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and PATA (Provincially Administered Tribal Areas), but the federation did not fulfill its commitment,” Kundi said while interacting with media representatives.
“A committee formed in connection with the merged tribal districts had recommended that Rs 200,000-250,000 crore be provided. Even that was ignored. We did not even receive the Rs 100,000 crore that was promised.”
Read: KP received Rp34.88 trillion in federal funds over the last five years
The governor announced that he would appeal to the prime minister to reconsider and withdraw the tax decision, warning that otherwise all KP political parties would jointly formulate a strategy. He also asked the prime minister to convene all political parties and draw up a collective action plan.
“If the prime minister faces any problem or compulsion, then he should support us. Then we will see who dares to tax us,” Kundi said.
During the ceremony, Governor Kundi distributed awards and certificates among sports journalists who demonstrated outstanding performance. He expressed concern over the lack of sports infrastructure in the province, noting that there was not a single fully equipped cricket stadium in KP that met first-class standards.
“More than half of the players in the national cricket team belong to the KP, which clearly demonstrates the incomparable talent of the province,” he noted, while lamenting the shortage of playing fields and basic facilities for athletes.
Read also: KP threatens to move FCC over NFC stock dispute
Lamenting the decline of squash and hockey, the governor pointed out that Pakistan had dominated world squash for 16 consecutive years but no world champion of Jansher Khan’s caliber had emerged since then. Similarly, the national sport, hockey, is also in decline and requires immediate and effective measures for its revival.
Governor Kundi further announced that a special ceremony would be held soon to honor the families of martyred KP journalists, paying tribute to their services and sacrifices.
The event was attended by association president Asim Shiraz, secretary Shahid Afridi and a large number of sports journalists.
