KP CM says matter of merged districts’ new taxes to be raised by the Centre

PESHAWAR, Jul 02 (APP): Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi on Thursday said the matter related to the new taxes in the merged districts and other financial obligation would be raised with the federal government.

The chief minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians and party leaders, which reviewed matters relating to the merged districts, outstanding financial dues of the province and electricity supply.

CM Afridi said a formal letter would also be sent to the federal government in this regard to highlight the need to review the matters including the province’s outstanding dues under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and electricity-related matters.

The matters, he said, would be raised with the federal government through all appropriate forums.

The chief minister also decided to convene a joint meeting of PESCO, TESCO and HESCO to discuss a permanent solution to the issues of unannounced load-shedding and low voltage.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment, CM Afridi said the provincial government would continue to protect the constitutional, economic and developmental rights of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly those of the merged districts, and would strongly oppose any decision detrimental to the province and its people.