KP CM urges PM to halt tax exemption withdrawal

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the decision to end tax exemptions in the merged districts and Malakand Division

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the decision to end tax exemptions in the merged districts and Malakand Division.

In a letter written to the prime minister, the chief minister said the proposed move should be reviewed as the federal government’s commitments made after the merger of tribal districts have not been fully implemented.

Sohail Afridi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing the burden of the merger process alone, while several promised financial and administrative steps remain incomplete.

He highlighted that the province has still not received the agreed share for merged districts under the National Finance Commission (NFC) arrangements.

The chief minister also objected that the provincial government was not consulted before the decision to withdraw tax exemptions was announced.

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had already passed a unanimous resolution, demanding that the proposed tax measures should be postponed.

Sohail Afridi stressed that ending tax exemptions at this stage could create difficulties for residents and businesses in the merged districts and Malakand Division.

He requested the federal government to immediately delay the implementation of the decision and hold consultations with the provincial authorities before moving forward.

The chief minister said fulfilling previous commitments and ensuring adequate financial support for the merged areas was necessary for their development and stability.