Government Poor Policies Leaving People Willing to Leave Country, Says Sohail Afridi

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that due to what he described as flawed government policies, a large majority of citizens are no longer willing to stay in the country, with “99 percent of people wanting to go abroad.”
Addressing a convocation ceremony at Khyber Girls Medical College in Peshawar, he stated that around 45 percent of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line, while inflation has significantly increased in recent years.
He remarked that if people were asked today who wants to leave the country, even “one percent would not be found” willing to stay, attributing this trend to the absence of effective national policies and economic direction.
Referring to the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the province once faced a severe wave of terrorism, including fear, explosions, and suicide attacks, which deprived an entire generation of education, development, and opportunities.
He added that from 2018 to 2022, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a period of relative stability began, during which security improved, development resumed, and public welfare policies were introduced. According to him, job opportunities increased, the economy stabilized, and GDP growth improved, allowing lower-income groups to feel some level of state support.