PESHAWAR(National Times)- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday said that governor’s rule and a state of emergency had been imposed in the province under “extraordinary circumstances”.
He added that all political parties would be taken into confidence to steer the province towards peace, stability and development, expressing confidence that terrorism would soon be eliminated.
The governor made these remarks while addressing members of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) at a local hotel. He said facilities for the KP police were being improved and salaries of police personnel would be raised to bring them at par with those in other provinces. He added that a cadet college was being established for the children of police martyrs.
The governor said journalism and the state were interconnected, as the media played a vital role in nation-building and strengthening democratic values. He added that misinformation had created new challenges for the profession and appreciated the CPNE’s longstanding contribution to promoting responsible journalism and national development.
Mr Kundi paid tribute to KP journalists for their sacrifices during the war against terrorism and said effective measures were being taken to address their financial difficulties, ensure their protection and resolve their professional issues. He assured the participants that constructive suggestions from the media community would be welcomed and that every possible support would be extended to resolve journalists’ problems on a priority basis.
Highlighting environmental concerns, Mr Kundi said excessive tree cutting had adversely affected forests and contributed to climate change. He said practical measures were being taken to promote tourism, while efforts were underway to award mineral contracts to local companies on a priority basis and attract international investors.
He also expressed concern over reports of illegal mineral extraction in the Shakardara area of Kohat.
The governor said previous governments had failed to establish an international-standard stadium and hospital in Peshawar. He added that the renovation of Arbab Niaz Stadium (Imran Khan), initiated in 2022, had been completed, while efforts were underway to build a modern international stadium capable of hosting world-class sporting events.
Mr Kundi said legislation for the Safe City project was being pursued, while work on the Northern Bypass and Ring Road projects would be expedited to improve traffic flow and provide better transport facilities to citizens.
Referring to the political situation, Mr Kundi described Maulana Fazlur Rehman as a respected political leader and stressed that while constructive criticism was a democratic right, political differences should not be allowed to develop into personal hostility.
