Finance Czar Assures KP CM of Resolving Key Financial Issues

Peshawar – (Web Desk) – Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has pledged his full backing to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, promising to help resolve the province’s genuine concerns and ease its financial struggles.

The two leaders sat down together at the Finance Division in Islamabad on Tuesday, where KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Aurangzeb held a warm and productive conversation. The Finance Ministry confirmed the meeting in an official statement.

During their discussion, Chief Minister Afridi openly shared the economic and financial hardships his province has been going through, while the finance minister listened attentively and reaffirmed that the federal government stands firmly behind all provincial governments in overcoming their financial difficulties.

It is worth noting that CM Afridi has long been vocal about his frustration over repeated delays in the release of NFC funds meant for the merged districts of KP — an issue he has been pushing hard on ever since he stepped into office last year.

CM Afridi had alleged repeated delays by the federal government in releasing National Finance Commission (NFC) funds for merged districts, a concern he has raised since taking office last year.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a meeting today with the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Sohail Afridi, at the Finance Division.

The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. The Chief Minister apprised the… pic.twitter.com/guQiRjQNzO

— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) March 31, 2026

Last week, KP walked out of the 11th NFC Subgroup-VII deliberations, opposing an “unconstitutional formula” affecting the newly merged districts and pressing for revision of the NFC resource distribution formula, The News reported.

Subgroup-VII had met to discuss the share of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in the federal divisible pool, amid KP’s strong objections over funding allocations.

CM Afridi had also raised financial issues with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last month, highlighting the blockage of Rs2,600 billion for the merged tribal districts.

In January, Afridi warned the prime minister that delayed federal payments were pushing KP toward a “severe financial crisis”, stressing the constitutional guarantee of these funds.