Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, he said the country is facing difficult circumstances, including tensions in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and the ongoing Iran-Israel situation. He added that the sudden rise in petrol prices has created serious pressure on ordinary citizens.
The chief minister said the provincial government has rejected the increase of Rs55 in petrol prices. According to him, instead of putting more burden on the public, the government should reduce the luxury spending of elite groups.
He said that when fuel prices increased slightly in the past, some political leaders strongly protested. However, the same leaders have now raised petrol prices significantly, which he called unfair for the public.
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Sohail Afridi warned that the country could also face a possible petrol shortage in the future. He said the provincial government has already shared suggestions with the federal government to address this issue.
He announced that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will provide financial relief worth Rs22 billion to support 1,500,000 registered motorcyclists across the province. The move aims to reduce the financial pressure caused by higher fuel prices.
The chief minister also said that despite the increase in fuel prices, the fare for the Bus Rapid Transit system will not be raised. He added that the provincial government will continue to pay the operational cost of the BRT system itself.
He further revealed that more BRT buses have already been ordered, including 10 pink buses that will be dedicated to women passengers.
Sohail Afridi said the provincial government is also preparing a support package for farmers. In addition, a solar energy project for 130,000 households will soon be completed to help people reduce electricity expenses.
He added that the salaries of members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have not been increased. The government has also banned official foreign trips at state expense to reduce public spending.
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The chief minister said the province’s government helicopter was destroyed in an accident in which two pilots lost their lives, and despite that, the government has not purchased a new helicopter.
He criticized other governments for spending heavily on luxury items, claiming that a new aircraft worth Rs11 billion was recently purchased in Punjab, while the KP government has avoided such spending.
Sohail Afridi also said the provincial government has not purchased any new official vehicles. Instead, it has developed a digital monitoring dashboard to keep strict check and balance on petrol pumps across the province.
