Warns against tax collection from tribal areas, challenges authorities to visit region, witness reality on ground
Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi. Photo: File
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday made it clear that the people of the former tribal areas would not pay taxes until they were given their rightful share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, claiming that issuing directives from Islamabad was far easier than implementing them on the ground.
Addressing an interactive session organized by the KP Sports Writers Association at the Governor’s House, the Governor criticized the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for its tax collection efforts in the merged districts, and questioned whether the FBR chairman had ever visited Waziristan, Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand or Parachinar to understand the plight of the local people.
“The state had promised us that it would spend Rs 100 billion annually in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and PATA (Provincially Administered Tribal Areas), but the federation failed to fulfill its commitment,” Kundi said while interacting with media representatives.
“A committee formed on the merged tribal districts had recommended that Rs 200 billion to Rs 250 billion should be made available. Even that was ignored. We did not even receive the Rs 100 billion promised.”
Read: KP received Rs34.88tr in federal funds over the past five years
The governor announced that he would appeal to the prime minister to reconsider and withdraw the tax decision, warning that otherwise all political parties in KP would jointly formulate a strategy. He also urged the Chief Minister to convene all political parties and prepare a collective action plan.
“If the Prime Minister faces any problem or compulsion, then he must stand with us. Then we will see who dares to collect tax from us,” Kundi asserted.
During the ceremony, Governor Kundi distributed awards and certificates among sports journalists who had demonstrated outstanding achievements. Expressing concern over the lack of sports infrastructure in the province, he noted that there was not a single fully-equipped cricket stadium meeting first-class standards in KP.
“More than half of the national cricket team players belong to KP, which is a clear proof of the outstanding talent of the province,” he noted while lamenting the lack of playing fields and basic facilities for athletes.
Also read: KP threatens to move FCC over NFC share dispute
Lamenting the decline in squash and hockey, the governor pointed out that Pakistan had dominated world squash for 16 consecutive years, but no world-class champion of Jansher Khan’s caliber had emerged since then. Similarly, the national sport, hockey, is also in decline, which requires immediate and effective measures to revive it.
Governor Kundi further announced that a special ceremony would be held soon to honor the families of martyred journalists from KP and pay tribute to their services and sacrifices.
The event was attended by the association’s chairman Asim Shiraz, secretary Shahid Afridi and a large number of sports journalists.
