PESHAWAR: Local government representatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have announced plans to launch a protest movement against the provincial government over the continued non-release of development funds for the past three fiscal years and the government’s persistent neglect of basic local governance issues.
The elected members of local bodies across KP claim they are being forced to take to the streets due to the government’s indifference and repeated broken promises. They allege that not a single rupee in development funds has been released to local governments since the 2021–22 fiscal year.
Azizullah Khan Marwat, spokesperson for the Local Councils Association and Tehsil Chairman of Sarai Naurang, along with Intizar Ali Khalil, Chairman of a Neighbourhood Council and a key coordinator, said that although funds for local governments are allocated in the provincial budget each year, they are never actually disbursed. This, they argued, amounts to stripping local bodies of their constitutional powers and rendering them ineffective.
Intizar Ali Khalil further revealed that despite staging multiple peaceful protests in the past, they were met with police baton charges, tear gas, and arrests. He added that despite several meetings with the Chief Minister of KP, no tangible action has been taken.
The spokesperson also highlighted the dire situation in the newly merged districts, where tehsil chairmen still lack access to basic facilities such as offices and vehicles, calling it a clear sign of systemic failure.
The Local Councils Association has now warned that if 20% of the provincial budget is not immediately allocated and released to local governments as per their legal entitlement, the association will finalise dates and locations for large-scale protests and sit-ins in its upcoming meeting next week.
Intizar Ali Khalil has also appealed to civil society, political parties, and international donor organisations to support their peaceful movement and stand up for the constitutional rights of local governments, which he stressed are essential for the sustainable development and prosperity of the province.
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