By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has received Rs800 billion over the past 15 years to counter terrorism, praising the province’s resilience while urging all provinces to benefit equally from national resources for Pakistan’s overall development.
Speaking at a national workshop with KP participants, the prime minister lamented the use of propaganda and disinformation to influence young minds, saying that social media often disrespects the sacrifices of martyrs while echoing hostile voices from across the border. “The nation will not rest until all attackers, whether inside or outside Pakistan, are eliminated,” he said.
Sharif highlighted the province’s frontline role in combating terrorism, recalling the influx of 4 million Afghan refugees and the subsequent rise of armed violence and extremist culture across Pakistan. He said KP’s citizens, along with politicians, doctors, engineers, the armed forces, police, and other institutions, made extraordinary sacrifices, culminating in the reported end of terrorism in 2018.
The prime minister criticized the release and resettlement of thousands of militants after that period, which, he said, contributed to renewed violence that continues to challenge national security. He also reviewed the financial and development support provided under the NFC Award.
PM Shehbaz said Punjab, alongside other provinces, allocated additional resources to KP to tackle terrorism, while the federal government contributed to infrastructure and education projects in Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. These initiatives include solar panels for farmers, student scholarships, laptops, and agricultural training programs in collaboration with Chinese institutions.
