Peshawar
Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Finance, Muzzammil Aslam, has stated that letters sent by the KP government to the Federal Minister for Commerce and the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on key provincial issues were ignored, with no response or action taken.
In a statement issued from his office, Muzzammil Aslam said that the KP government had formally written to Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal and the SBP Governor to highlight critical matters affecting the province. However, he said, neither office deemed it appropriate to respond to the correspondence.
He said the letter addressed to the commerce minister highlighted important issues related to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s trade with Afghanistan, while the letter sent to the SBP governor focused on the issue of financial inclusion in KP and other smaller provinces. The letter emphasized the need for increased local lending in proportion to the deposits generated within the province.
Muzzammil Aslam said his office made repeated efforts to secure a meeting with the commerce minister but received no response.
He added that due to the federal ministry’s lack of interest in enhancing the country’s export potential, Pakistan’s exports continue to decline.
He further criticized the attitude of the State Bank governor towards smaller provinces, stating that engagement with provincial governments is minimal and almost negligible. He said the SBP governor rarely maintains contact with provincial administrations on matters of economic importance.
The KP finance advisor said these concerns would be raised before the Prime Minister and the Federal Minister for Finance, stressing that Pakistan needs capable and responsive individuals in key positions to address pressing economic challenges.
