KP revenue jumps to Rs150bn without new taxes

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has criticised the federal government over its growing reliance on borrowing, saying that the burden of increasing debt was ultimately falling on ordinary citizens.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Pashtakhara Chowk Underpass in Peshawar, the chief minister said the price of petrol had increased by more than Rs200 over the past four years, making life increasingly difficult for the public.

Afridi said the economic pressure had become so severe that even members of the middle class who were previously able to meet their basic needs had been pushed below the poverty line. He expressed concern over the growing financial difficulties faced by ordinary families.

Responding to criticism of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the chief minister said his party had neither violated the Constitution nor attacked the Supreme Court. He also rejected statements suggesting that the party considered other provinces a greater threat than India.

Afridi said significant development work was underway across Peshawar and pledged that ongoing projects would be completed ahead of schedule. He also announced that Pashtakhara Chowk had been renamed after martyred PTI worker Fayyaz Khalil.

The chief minister reiterated his support for PTI founder Imran Khan, saying the party had remained under continuous political pressure and what he described as oppression and coercion for the past four years.

Highlighting the provincial government’s financial performance, Afridi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had increased its revenue from Rs93 billion to Rs150 billion without imposing additional taxes. He described the rise as evidence that the province had been able to improve its revenue collection without placing a new tax burden on the public.