BY: SHAHID JAN
PESHAWAR: Female members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly have strongly rejected the provincial budget, calling it a “total injustice” against women. They criticized the lack of allocations for women’s empowerment, girls’ education, and development programs.
Asma Alam, a lawmaker from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), told Pakhtun Digital that the budget completely ignores women’s needs. “When the budget was being presented, the chief minister spoke about recommendations, but in reality, no women members were consulted,” she said. “There is nothing for women’s rights, no schools or colleges for girls, and no uplift programs.”
Alam, one of five opposition women in the assembly, said they received no development funds last year and have been ignored again. “We are public representatives too, but the CM has no interest in women’s issues,” she added. “If he calls us, we will meet him, but we don’t expect anything from this government.”
Another lawmaker, speaking anonymously, accused the government of making false promises before the budget. “The KP government depends on federal funds but still fails to allocate anything for women,” she said.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Nelofar Babar also condemned the budget, saying she raised the issue in her speech but received no clear response. “The speaker claimed there are allocations, but I don’t believe it,” she said. “The CM even told us not to expect anything until PTI’s reserved-seat members join the assembly.”
PML-N’s Sobia Shah said the budget offers nothing for women and criticized Deputy Speaker Surrya Bibi for not consulting female lawmakers.
Notably, PTI could not secure reserved seats due to legal disputes with the Election Commission, reducing women’s representation in the assembly.
Also read:No schools, police stations in years: ANP rejects KP budget priorities
