PESHAWAR
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Monday said the province’s police, former Levies and Khasadar personnel had rendered unparalleled sacrifices for peace, stressing that the KP Police should be equipped with modern weapons, technology and adequate resources to effectively combat terrorism.
Addressing a jirga of the tribal districts’ business community and former Levies and Khasadar Force representatives at the Governor House, the Governor said KP Police personnel were receiving lower salaries and benefits than their counterparts in other provinces despite remaining on the frontline in the war against terrorism for more than two decades. The jirga was attended by Pakistan Borders Trade Council Chairman Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, All FATA Levies and Khasadar Force Action Committee Chairman Syed Jalal Wazir, former MNA and industrialist Haji Baz Gul Afridi, business leaders and presidents of various chambers of commerce from tribal districts.
The participants apprised the Governor of the issues being faced by the business community and former Levies and Khasadar personnel.
The Governor said those who had sacrificed for peace and contributed to strengthening the national economy deserved greater attention, regretting that their concerns had not been adequately addressed.
He said nine years had passed since the merger of the tribal districts with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but many commitments made at the time of the merger had yet to be fulfilled, while development resources were not being utilised effectively.
He said overseas Pakistanis and the business community could bring billions of dollars in investment if provided with a peaceful and conducive environment.
He also called for modern equipment, including thermal and night-vision technology, to strengthen the police’s capacity against militants.
Kundi said KP Police personnel who had played a key role in maintaining law and order had also been overlooked for national awards.
He added that the province was facing shortages of wheat and financial resources, and urged that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa be given their due share and employment opportunities.
The Governor said he would take the jirga’s demands to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after preparing a formal draft of the proposals.
Referring to regional issues, he said Pakistan had hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades, but incidents involving Afghan nationals in law and order problems had also surfaced.
He urged the Afghan authorities to prevent the use of their territory against Pakistan and called for resolving bilateral issues through dialogue in the interest of both countries.
The Governor said Pakistan had emerged as a country advocating peace and that internal challenges should also be resolved through dialogue.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa possessed immense potential for investment in minerals, hydropower, gas and tourism, but lasting peace was essential to attract investors.
He stressed that all stakeholders must work together for lasting peace, sustainable development and protection of the rights of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
