Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Provincial Chairman Sikandar Khan Sherpao here on Sunday said only cordial relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan can help bring peace, development and prosperity to the region. Both the states should set together on the negotiation table and take sincere steps to remove the mistrust between the two neighbouring countries, he added.
He expressed these views during QWP District Swabi cabinet meeting at Jamal Abad. General Secretary Hashim Babar, Provincial Information Secretary Tariq Ahmad, Secretary Political Training Asad Afridi, District Swabi Chairman Masood Jabbar and members of the district cabinet were also present on the occasion.
Sikandar Sherpao maintained that improved ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan was the need of the day, adding that the Pakhtuns leadership should also play a proactive role to minimise stress and help improve bilateral relations between the two countries.
While criticising federal government of adopting discriminatory policy with small provinces, he said government was using delay tactics in releasing of net hydel profit to the province which had brought negative impact on the socio-economic life of the Pakhtuns. He asked federal government to stop dual policy with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and demanded to release net hydel profit as soon as possible in order to remove the concerns of the Pakhtuns' population.
While talking about Punjab's province stance on Ghazi Barotha project, he said if the Punjab government was demanding royalty of the project then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province should also be given dues of hydel generation since 1973, he demanded. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had been producing electricity more then its requirement but the inhabitants of this province were still facing the menace of load-shedding which is a sheer injustice, he lamented.
Expressing QWP's viewpoint on the initiation of reforms in Fata, Sikandar Sherpao said his party would support all those efforts which are in the best interest and acceptable to the tribesmen.