Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Thursday that corrupt elements in federal government have pushed Pakistan’s economy to the brink of collapse, while unveiling initiatives to support students and enhance financial self-sufficiency at the University of Peshawar.
Afridi made these remarks during an unannounced and informal visit to the university’s Economics Department, where he met students directly, listened to their suggestions, and instructed the Vice Chancellor to take practical steps toward financial autonomy for the institution.
“The corrupt forces in control of the country have historically siphoned off 5,300 billion rupees,” Afridi said, adding that under the National Economic Program, the federal government owes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa more than 2,200 billion rupees, while 1,375 billion rupees remain due for the merged districts under NFC allocations. He noted that although an annual allocation of 100 billion rupees was promised for the merged districts, only 168 billion has been disbursed over seven years, leaving 532 billion still outstanding.
Afridi urged students to raise their voices for provincial rights and recommended that debates be organized across universities on the issue. He also announced that scholarships and special financial packages for students will be included in the upcoming provincial budget. Additionally, the provincial government is working on an internship policy to provide employment opportunities for youth.
The chief minister said past closed-door decisions have caused irreparable damage to the province, and emphasized ongoing efforts to maintain law and order. He noted that GDP growth during Imran Khan’s tenure was 6.2 percent, which has now dropped to 2.6 percent. Afridi also sought student input on providing subsidized meals in university hostels.
In addition, Afridi announced plans to upgrade the Economics Department’s computer lab and launch a solarization project for the Economics, Political Science, and International Relations departments, with a total cost of 53 million rupees.
