KP Budget 2026 Sohail Afridi Gohar Ali Khan PTI Budget KP Budget Delay — PTI leaders speak to reporters in Peshawar ahead of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget session.

Gohar: Sohail Afridi PTI Founder Meeting Budget Delay

How the Sohail Afridi PTI founder meeting budget delay played out in KP

By Desk Assistant Last updated Jun 19, 2026

KP – (Web Desk) – The Sohail Afridi PTI founder meeting budget delay became a hot topic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this week. The issue came up just as the province prepared to present its 2026-27 budget.

PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan cleared the air early on. He said the budget was not being passed because of pressure from the federal government. Instead, he called it a clear constitutional duty of the province.

Gohar also said the budget had nothing to do with the centre. He added that every lawmaker, including Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, would show up for the assembly session.

Behind the scenes, things were not so simple. Senior PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai shared that CM Sohail Afridi first wanted to wait. He hoped to meet the PTI founder before moving ahead with the budget.

One idea on the table was a short, three-month budget instead. However, legal advisors warned this could freeze development work. Salaries and pensions would still get paid, but new projects would stall.

In the end, the party chose a different path. PTI leaders decided to present the full budget instead of a partial one. They said this choice would protect the province and keep development moving.

Some lawmakers had quiet concerns about the move. Still, Yousafzai made it clear these members were not rebelling. He said they would speak their minds in the assembly, then vote with the party.

He also brushed off talk of secret deals or back-channel contacts. According to him, the public has every right to expect their leaders to consult the PTI founder.

On the numbers side, the budget crosses Rs2.170 trillion. More than Rs519 billion is set aside for development, with a good share coming from international donors. Government workers will also see a 7% pay raise.

Yousafzai added that no new taxes are part of this budget. In fact, several existing taxes are being eased to help the public during high inflation.

Meanwhile, former speaker Mushtaq Ghani shared a different angle. He mentioned that 35 like-minded PTI lawmakers planned a meeting to decide their final stand on the budget. He also questioned whether the delay tactic was putting any real pressure on the federal government at all.