The Awami National Party (ANP) has officially rejected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, denouncing it as a calculated maneuver that threatens to plunge the province into economic, educational, and administrative decline. In a statement issued from Bacha Khan Markaz on Saturday, ANP Provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain characterized the budget as a mere exercise in figures and statistics rather than a viable financial plan.
Allegations of Misleading Projections and Phantom Allocations
Hussain criticized the PTI-led government, asserting that despite 13 years in power, it continues to mislead the public through contradictory claims and unrealistic projections. He pointed out that the government has announced a budget deficit of Rs48 billion while simultaneously allocating Rs52.8 billion to district governments that do not exist. He termed this an attempt to conceal the actual financial situation and mislead the public.
According to Hussain, the allocation was not part of a genuine development strategy but a political move aimed at securing the support of dissatisfied assembly members at the expense of the province's future. He accused the government of prioritizing political expediency over sound fiscal management.
Neglect of Education, Health, and Human Development
The ANP leader expressed grave concern over what he described as the government's neglect of education, health, and human development. He highlighted that nearly 4.5 million children remain out of school in the province, yet only Rs5 billion has been allocated to address this crisis. In contrast, road projects have received almost three times as much funding as the education development sector.
Hussain questioned the continued allocation of billions of rupees in subsidies to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and the increasing spending on Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs), while basic healthcare projects across the province remain underfunded. He warned that thousands of public development schemes are now facing delays and could take decades to complete if current policies persist.
Economic Burden on Salaried Class and Middle Class
Hussain further stated that the budget offers little relief to salaried employees, labourers, farmers, small business owners, and the middle class, who continue to face economic difficulties. He noted that despite more than a decade of PTI rule, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has failed to significantly improve its own revenue generation and remains heavily dependent on federal funds.
According to him, nearly 92 percent of the provincial budget relies on federal transfers, rendering earlier claims of economic transformation, provincial autonomy, and self-sufficiency unrealistic. He called the budget an attempt to hide political interests behind financial figures.
Demand for True Economic Picture and Development Focus
The ANP demanded that the provincial government present the true economic picture and focus public resources on education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and genuine development initiatives. The party urged the government to prioritize the welfare of the people over political gains and to ensure transparent and effective use of public funds.
