In a recent video message, Muzzamil Aslam, the Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Finance and Interprovincial Coordination, shared the remarkable achievements of the provincial government over the past year.
He highlighted how KP has set an example for other provinces and even the federal government with its outstanding performance.
Why the Opposition Was Worried?
After the elections, when Imran Khan nominated Ali Amin Gandapur as the Chief Minister of KP, the opposition expressed concerns in the media.
However, after one year of successful governance, it’s clear why they were worried.
The opposition feared that KP would progress under the current government, and today, their fears have come true.
KP’s performance has surpassed not only the federal government but also other provinces.
A Book of Achievements: “25 Sectors and 25 Achievements”
Instead of spending money on expensive advertisements, the KP government has published a book titled “25 Sectors and 25 Achievements” to showcase its one-year performance.
This book outlines the accomplishments of 25 government departments, with each department achieving 25 notable successes.
Muzzamil Aslam clarified that this doesn’t mean each department has only 25 achievements.
For example, the Finance Department alone could list 100 accomplishments.
Financial Success: A Surplus Budget
One of the biggest achievements of the KP government is its financial management.
The province presented the largest surplus budget in its history, with a surplus of Rs169 billion in the first six months of the financial year.
The target was Rs100 billion, but KP exceeded it by achieving Rs169 billion. The province is also on track to meet the Rs178 billion surplus target set by the IMF.
In comparison, the federal government collected Rs. 606 billion less than its target in the first eight months.
KP’s tax ratio is around 50 percent, with non-tax revenue at 55 percent and tax revenue at 46 percent. This shows how well the province is managing its finances.
Key Initiatives for Development
The KP government has taken several steps to ensure development and welfare for its people:
- Debt Management Fund: KP has established the first-ever debt management fund with Rs30 billion allocated and plans to add Rs40 billion more.
- Mineral Royalty: The province has increased mineral royalty by 200%, bringing more revenue to the government.
- Infrastructure Development Cess: A new tax has been introduced to fund infrastructure projects.
- Development Funds: The government has released 50% of development funds in the first six months and plans to release 25% more than the allocated budget.
- Ehsaas Programme: A Rs15 billion Ehsaas Programme has been launched to support the people of KP.
- Pension Reforms: The government is working on pension reforms to ensure long-term financial stability.
- Healthcare Improvements: More medicines have been purchased with less money compared to the previous government.
- Free Textbooks: Rs10 billion has been allocated to provide free textbooks to students.
A Government for the People
Muzzamil Aslam expressed his gratitude to Imran Khan for appointing him as the Finance Advisor despite his non-political background.
He emphasized that only Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could give such an opportunity to someone without a political background or vote bank.
Conclusion
The past year has been a journey of progress and success for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
From financial stability to development initiatives, the KP government has worked tirelessly for the welfare of its people.
The achievements highlighted in the book “25 Sectors and 25 Achievements” are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the provincial government.
KP is setting an example for others to follow, proving that good governance and people-focused policies can bring real change.