Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition government in terrorism-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has prioritised two major sectors - education and health -as its prime focus in the upcoming budget to provide quality and uniform education to all and improve health facilities.
However, terrorism will remain a daunting challenge for the party and it is in the process of moving a resolution in the provincial assembly, calling upon the federal government to take steps on war footing to halt US drone strikes in tribal areas instead of merely rhetorically calling for an end to drone strikes. Talking to Business Recorder PTI provincial chapter secretary general Shaukat Yousafzai said that though the budget making process had already been started by the caretaker provincial government yet education and health sectors would be the top priorities in the party's initial stage towards Naya Pakistan.
He said that it is premature to give budgetary allocations for education and health at this stage, adding the budget making process is still ongoing and deliberations are continuing with prime focus on the two sectors. PTI, which emerged victorious in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is still in the process of formation of a coalition government with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP) and Awami Jamhoori Itehad Pakistan (AJIP) but it is yet to finalise portfolios for the provincial cabinet.
When asked how the party will ensure implementation of its manifesto when the key ministries such as finance, education and health went to its coalition partners, he said that no portfolio has been finalised so far and prior to entering an agreement to form the coalition government the allies have to endorse PTI agenda and its manifesto.
However, according to reliable sources, the PTI leadership is facing serious difficulties in finalisation of portfolios of its coalition partners as well its own elected members who are pressing the leadership for lucrative slots in the provincial cabinet. They further revealed that the party had given a green single to JI that three crucial ministries such as Finance, Education, Zakat and Ushar as well as the honorary title of Senior Minister would be given to JI leaders but the decision is now pending after PTI won 55 of 122 seats in KP assembly, which largely reduced the party's need for coalition partners. According to sources, the party leadership is not willing to give the education ministry to JI as it was feared the PTI maybe subjected to criticism from liberal forces. "The consultation process is still continued and the party is yet to reach any decision about the allocation of portfolios to allied parties and party members", said a senior PTI leader on condition of anonymity.
However, Shaukat Yousafzai expressed the hope that the issue will be resolved amicably with leadership of the coalition partners. About the party's strategy to deal with the issue of terrorism, the PTI leader said that restoration of peace was a major challenge and the party has the capability to deal with it in a better way.
He further said that it was for the central government to form counter-terrorism policy and the country's foreign policy and in this connection the PTI has submitted a resolution in the provincial assembly on Wednesday calling upon the central government to take immediate measures to stop the drone strikes and give a clear policy to the nation.
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