DLP Report
ISLAMABAD
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan has stressed the urgent need for the full financial integration of the Merged Districts to ensure effective governance, service delivery, and long-term stability.
Speaking in a high-level debate at the Pakistan Population Summit 2025 in Islamabad on Tuesday, CM aide Shafi Jan noted that while the administrative merger of the former FATA regions with KP in 2018 was historic, the financial merger remains incomplete.
“ This has created significant governance and development gaps, with the province shouldering financial responsibilities that should have been met through federal commitments,” he added.
Shafi Jan highlighted the ongoing hardships faced by the region’s population, including displacement and limited access to essential services, and pointed out that promised shares and federal support remain unfulfilled.
He also stressed that surging terrorism threats and climate change impacts further strain the province’s limited resources, impeding investment in healthcare, education, and skill development.
Urging national stakeholders to prioritize the Merged Districts, he emphasized that administrative merger alone is insufficient.
“With adequate resources, transparent financial allocations, and targeted investments, these conflict-hit and marginalized populations can finally be uplifted and bought at par with the national mainstream,” he said.
