Peshawar: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that establishing sustainable peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has become unavoidable, stressing that national security remains the government’s top priority.
Addressing participants of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Security Workshop, the prime minister said the province had made unmatched sacrifices in the war against terrorism, and the federal government was taking concrete steps to further improve law and order in KP.
He said a comprehensive strategy was being implemented to counter internal and external security challenges, adding that the sacrifices of security forces in the fight against terrorism were highly commendable. “The state is fully determined to eliminate terrorism from its roots, and this goal requires national unity,” he said.
The prime minister emphasised that Pakistan’s progress depends on the development of all provinces. “If Punjab develops but other provinces do not, it cannot be called Pakistan’s development,” he said, adding that balanced growth across the country was essential.
Highlighting federal support for smaller provinces, Shehbaz Sharif said Punjab had transferred Rs100 billion from its own share to Balochistan, while the federal government was financing major road infrastructure projects in the province. He added that Rs40 billion had been allocated for solar tube-wells in Balochistan.
He further said that other provinces had contributed Rs800 billion from their shares to help Khyber Pakhtunkhwa combat terrorism, recalling that the people of KP had voted in favour of Pakistan during the referendum.
The prime minister also claimed that Pakistan had achieved success in a conflict with India under the leadership of a field marshal, stating that seven Indian aircraft were shot down last year. He said Pakistan’s economy was strengthening rapidly, and the country’s global standing had improved as a result.
Referring to Afghanistan, Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had hosted around four million Afghan refugees, adding that it was now for Afghanistan to decide whether it wanted to live in peace. He urged the Afghan interim government to show responsibility towards its people, protect youth from extremism, and guide them towards positive and constructive paths.
The prime minister also noted that he had called the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister to congratulate him on assuming office, adding that there had been no further contact since then.