Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has pledged to extract and sell the province’s mineral resources. He said the government must take practical steps to promote development and benefit from its natural wealth.
Speaking at a ceremony in Peshawar, Kundi accused some fugitive figures from the former provincial government of encouraging people from across the border. He also claimed that decisions under the previous KP government came from Kabul and Kandahar rather than Islamabad.
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The governor alleged that authorities had resettled militants in the province and brought people from Afghanistan into the region. He said some militants had taken up arms again. Therefore, he stressed that the state would not compromise on peace and security.
Kundi said authorities would fight those who take up arms against the state. He also called for action against individuals who reject Pakistan’s Constitution and laws. Meanwhile, he noted that security operations against militant groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army, continued in Balochistan.
The governor also disagreed with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his position on governor’s rule. Fazlur Rehman has said he cannot move freely in his area and criticised the provincial government’s handling of law and order. However, Kundi argued that the government was making efforts to maintain peace.
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Furthermore, Kundi expressed disappointment over Fazlur Rehman’s recent speech. He said the KP government had formed and continued without the JUI-F chief’s support. He also questioned the potential for mineral development in areas including Lakki Marwat, Tank and Bannu.
Kundi said foreign companies, Pakistani businesses and the KP government could invest together in mineral projects. He invited Fazlur Rehman to support efforts for peace and prosperity. He added that the province’s people wanted security, economic progress and better development opportunities.