Dr Ibad terms KP budget's copy paste amid heavy debt burden

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2026) Opposition leader in Khyber Pakthunkhwa Assembly Dr. Ibadullah here Sunday strongly criticized the provincial government's performance and budget policies.

Dr. Ibadullah while addressing budget session said that the province has been under the same government for the past 13 years, yet within just two years, the estimated debt is being pushed toward one trillion rupees.

He claimed that even in the previous 66 years, such a level of debt had not been accumulated.

He stated that the provincial budget relies entirely on Federal transfers and noted that this is the 17th budget on which he has spoken.

Calling it a copy-paste budget, Dr. Ibadullah said that only Rs. 100,000 has been allocated to each of 189 projects, while merely Rs. 10,000 has been earmarked for 177 schemes. According to him, these are effectively incomplete and non-viable projects.

He further said that several projects have been included merely to please Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), while provincial expenditures have now exceeded revenues.

The opposition leader added that the government has failed to effectively present the province’s case before the federal government.

Dr. Ibadullah claimed that provincial debt has increased by Rs. 175 billion over the past two years, whereas the total debt accumulated during the previous 66 years was Rs. 150 billion. He also raised questions regarding increased budget allocations for Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs) and their administrative affairs.

The opposition leader asserted that more than five million children in the province are still out of school and that the government's performance in addressing this issue has been inadequate.

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He further stated that in 95 percent of the province’s areas, people cannot safely leave their homes after sunset, reflecting the poor law-and-order situation.

According to him, the province faces a severe shortage of drinking water and basic facilities, and despite the availability of resources, there is a lack of an effective strategy.

During the session, government members interrupted the opposition leader’s speech with protests and noise. The Speaker intervened and instructed them to remain silent, stating that both the leader of the house and the opposition leader have the right to speak without strict time limitations.

Referring to the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Dr. Ibadullah questioned what measures were taken in the budget for the merged districts when the party was also in power at the federal level in 2018. He challenged the government to present the details of the federal budget of that period before the public.

He further stated that 1,200 schemes have been included in the new budget, while many incomplete projects have not been provided with adequate funding.

According to him, these measures have been taken purely on political grounds, and the completion of development projects remains a major question mark.

Dr. Ibadullah also remarked that today is an important day for Pakistan and that the country's name is gaining recognition globally in the context of peace.

He paid tribute to the Prime Minister and the Field Marshal and expressed hope that the current circumstances would be utilized to the country's advantage.