Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has named restoring calm and wiping out terrorism as the top priorities for the provincial administration. Speaking on Sunday at the Governor House in Peshawar, he pledged to build up the police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), act against militants and those who support them, and make public institutions more open.
Kundi was chairing the first session of the 11-member advisory council, which the federal government had formed earlier. Alongside the council, Islamabad has not been mentioned in this context; instead, the federal government set up a separate administrative secretariat to oversee 12 districts hit by terrorism. Kundi said the federal government had put its confidence in the council to improve governance and tackle the province’s problems, and that members were expected to focus on peace, the rule of law and development.
Kundi outlines measures against militants and facilitators
The governor said the police and other relevant institutions would receive full backing, and that the capacity of the police and CTD would be increased to deal with terrorism. He stated that the state was resolved to bring militants and their facilitators before justice under the law. The National Action Plan, he added, would be carried out in full, and any breach of the law would meet swift action.
Kundi also stressed that every state measure would remain within the Constitution and the legal framework. Those who stay within the law, he said, would be fully protected, and the purpose of the exceptional steps was to enforce the law and eliminate terrorism. He put the government’s position in a single line: “Peace is the foremost priority.”
Zero tolerance for graft and better public services
The governor pledged a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and called for better delivery of public services. He said ordinary citizens should not be forced to return to government offices again and again to complete their work. Kundi added that transparency would be introduced in education, healthcare, the justice system and other public sectors.
He argued that better governance was essential for the province’s recovery and development. Kundi said the state had a duty to give greater attention to areas facing deprivation, and to address the grievances of people who had suffered through prolonged insecurity. He urged the advisory council to work together for the province’s progress and prosperity, saying that rebuilding public confidence in institutions would be an important part of that effort.
Youth employment, tourism and tribute to security forces
Kundi said young people represented the country’s future and that the state was responsible for guaranteeing access to education and employment. He said youth should be handed books and pens instead of weapons, and expressed hope that a peaceful environment would let them pursue their ambitions and contribute to society. He linked security with economic growth, saying lasting calm would promote tourism and open development opportunities in a province rich in natural resources.
The governor paid tribute to the security forces for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He said police and other law enforcement agencies had endured immense losses while restoring security. He acknowledged that the challenges were considerable, but said the government’s resolve was stronger, and that all available capabilities would be deployed to establish peace across the province.
Kundi also announced that an Apex Committee meeting would be held on Monday to discuss the province’s security and the steps needed to improve law and order. The advisory council’s first meeting comes amid heightened attention to security and governance in the province, following the federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
