Information Minister Attaullah Tarar questioned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s management of resources, public funds, health, education and law and order.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has questioned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s management of provincial resources, development priorities and public spending, saying the province’s challenges are linked to governance and intent rather than a lack of resources.
Speaking in Peshawar, Tarar questioned who had been awarded contracts for timber, tobacco, mines and minerals, as well as gold mining, and asked whether the provincial government could not collect taxes to generate revenue.
“Is the problem resources or intent?” Tarar asked, saying the government could upgrade institutions such as Lady Reading Hospital if it had the will to do so.
He said healthcare facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained inadequate and argued that the province’s available resources should be directed toward public services.
Tarar also criticized the provincial government’s development priorities, saying development was not its mandate and alleging that its focus was limited to securing the release of a prisoner.
He claimed that funds were available for what he described as “extravagant spending,” but that sufficient resources were not being allocated to law and order, education and health.
The information minister also raised concerns about disruptions to public movement during political protests. He said the Islamabad High Court had issued clear directions that citizens’ movement should not be obstructed.
According to Tarar, a single sit-in could cause traders losses of up to Rs120 billion, underscoring the economic impact of prolonged disruptions on businesses and commercial activity.
He called for greater restraint among politicians and said political differences should be expressed with respect. Tarar also stressed the need for constructive criticism in politics.
The minister accused political actors of influencing young people through what he described as misguided thinking. He said political discourse should focus on constructive criticism rather than confrontation.
Tarar further alleged that a practice of registering cases against women had been introduced into politics. Referring to a specific incident, he claimed that a daughter was arrested in front of her father after what he described as false cases were registered against her.
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