Peshawar (Lord Media): Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Suhail Afridi, has written to the Prime Minister urging a reconsideration of the proposed decision to end tax exemptions for the merged districts and Malakand Division. He stated that the removal of tax exemptions is causing public concern and has been met with reservations from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
In his letter, the Chief Minister further highlighted that the integration of the merged districts was carried out with federal commitments that remain unfulfilled. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is bearing the integration burden alone and has yet to receive its agreed share in the NFC.
Suhail Afridi noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has suffered unprecedented losses in the fight against terrorism and continues to endure financial strain. The closure of border trade with Afghanistan has adversely affected the economy of the merged districts.
He added that backwardness, inadequate infrastructure, and energy issues are hindering regional development, and the tax exemption was intended to boost investment and employment. The Chief Minister called on the federal government to defer the decision to withdraw tax exemptions from the merged districts.
