PTI’s Junaid Akbar Urges Government to Strengthen Merged Districts Before Imposing Taxes

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Junaid Akbar has urged the federal government to improve the economic conditions of the merged districts before imposing new taxes, arguing that the region should first be made capable of contributing to the tax system.

In a statement, Junaid Akbar said the merged districts had been promised Rs100 billion in financial support, adding that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was fulfilling its responsibilities toward the region despite limited financial resources.

He criticized the introduction of income tax and levy measures in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA), saying the government should first create economic opportunities that would enable residents to pay taxes.

Commenting on the issue, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the finance minister had earlier assured stakeholders regarding the matter but the tax provisions were nevertheless included in the Finance Bill.

Qaiser also criticized prolonged electricity outages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming that areas from Khyber to Malakand were facing between 18 and 22 hours of load-shedding. He argued that provinces producing electricity should have priority access to the power they generate.

The statements reflect the views of PTI leaders. The federal government had not publicly responded to their remarks at the time of reporting.