Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday reaffirmed his support for the provincial government on all matters relating to the province’s rights and interests, saying political consensus on provincial issues would be built before taking up the matters with the federal government. Addressing a grand jirga convened by the provincial government at the Chief […]
FATA
Kundi vows to raise former FATA, PATA business concerns
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday held a meeting with the delegation comprising former FATA and PATA chambers’ presidents and representatives of the business community at the Governor’s House. The delegation included President Malakand Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inam Khan, Muhammad Shoaib, President Bajaur Chamber of Commerce Haji Lali Shah, President Mohmand […]
Asad Qaiser demands tax relief for FATA until stability returns
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser has demanded that the government stop imposing taxes on the former FATA region until peace is restored. Speaking to media at the Parliament House, he said the area has not yet seen development or stability, so citizens should not be burdened with taxes. Qaiser argued that there is no justification […]
Government rejects opposition’s proposal to retain tax exemption in FATA, PATA
The government has rejected the opposition’s request to stop a 10% sales tax in FATA and PATA. Officials said the tax exemption in these regions will be removed slowly, not all at once. This decision has created division within PTI and sparked political tension. During a detailed meeting, a PTI team led by former National […]
Opposition asks govt to incorporate Senate’s recommendations in budget
Lawmakers from the opposition benches in the National Assembly on Friday asked the government to incorporate the recommendations presented by the Senate, the Upper House of the Parliament, in the federal budget 2021-22 aimed at achieving real growth and providing relief to the common man. Participating in the budget debate, Members National Assembly (MNAs) Rana […]
Govt committed to peace, progress, prosperity in ex-FATA districts: Tarin
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin Thursday said the incumbent government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan was committed to peace, progress and prosperity in formerly Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) districts. Peace and prosperity in erstwhile FATA districts was imperative for the rest of the country, he said while chairing […]
Politicians of merged areas welcome Rs54 bn allocation in budget 2021-22
Politicians, Maliks and civil society on Friday welcomed earmarking of Rs54 billion for merged tribal districts in budget 2021-22 and termed it a huge allocation that would help expedite pace of economic growth and development there. Member Provincial Assembly (MPA), Muhammad Shafiq welcomed Rs54 billion allocation in the Federal Budget 2021-22 for merged areas and […]
NA debates bill for hike in seats for erstwhile FATA
A constitutional amendment bill seeking increase in the number of seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the National Assembly and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, tabled by MNA Mohsin Dawar, was debated in the Lower House on Friday. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif started the debate over the 26th Constitutional Amendment […]
Economics and Hybrid warfare: economic sanctions as a tool to pressurize the state
Defending against hybrid warfare requires certainty of financial resources. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s weak economic position and lack of fiscal space to expand security-related budget has constrained the country’s ability to give a more proactive response to hybrid warfare. Pakistan faces various forms of economic threats from its neighbours which need to be carefully studied. For example, […]
PTM versus the Military: the way forward
Pakistan faced immense challenges related to state formation and, in this respect, the country’s northwestern region, i.e. FATA, proved a herculean task. Indeed, the pro-Bacha Khan Pashtuns and their supporters in Afghanistan disapproved of the idea of a state being governed by the non-Pashtuns, i.e. Mohajirs and Punjabis. Moreover, the Pashtuns, by and large, have […]