PESHAWAR: The leader of opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dr. Ibadullah, here Wednesday criticized the provincial budget for 2026–27, saying that neither the government nor the opposition was happy with its approval, which is why neither side congratulated the other. He added that he prayed the budget would not be implemented, otherwise the province would not be able to progress. Speaking after the budget was approved in the provincial assembly, Dr. Ibadullah said that when the value of the dollar began to rise and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was in power at the federal level, government ministers used to describe it as beneficial for them, and there is a record of those statements. However, today the provincial finance adviser is taking a completely different position. He said that last year he had predicted that the provincial government would not be able to present its next budget, a prediction that proved correct after the end of the Ali Amin Gandapur government. According to him, the current Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, is presenting what will be both his first and last budget. APP
