Governor Kundi Calls for Strengthening Economy Through Business and Agriculture
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday emphasized the role of business, farmers, and overseas Pakistanis in bolstering Pakistan's economy during a visit to the historic Mohabbat Khan Mosque in Peshawar. He held discussions with traders' community representatives at the mosque following a tour of Asia's ancient Sarafa Bazar.
According to APP (UrduPoint), Kundi stated that Pakistan can reduce its reliance on the IMF by strengthening its national economy, highlighting the disconnect between policymakers in Islamabad and economic challenges faced at grassroots levels. He prioritized supporting the business community and assured traders of his active involvement in resolving their issues, both officially and personally.
The Governor promised to arrange a meeting between traders and WAPDA's Chief Executive to address electricity concerns in Sarafa Bazar and Mohabbat Khan Mosque. He noted that new gas pipelines had been installed in Namak Mandi and other civic issues would be taken up with relevant authorities. Kundi criticized official claims of solarization, suggesting that if the mosque still faced power shortages, it reflected a failure by concerned departments.
He recognized Mohabbat Khan Mosque and Sarafa Bazar as integral parts of Peshawar's historical identity and pledged to support their restoration, attracting tourists in the process. Kundi also criticized the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over taxation issues in former FATA and PATA regions, having already raised the matter with the Prime Minister for trader relief.
Highlighting agriculture's importance to the national economy, Kundi expressed regret that farmers and overseas Pakistanis are often overlooked when conferring national civil awards despite their significant contributions. On Defence Day, he paid tribute to the country's martyrs and praised defense cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, describing it as a source of pride.