Kalabagh Dam a national need, Afghan citizens deserve citizenship: KP CM Gandapur

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday expressed support for the construction of Kalabagh Dam, saying the project should be launched in the national interest of Pakistan and not for provincial or personal interests.

Speaking to senior journalists, Gandapur said wrong policies have made Afghanistan an enemy. “After 40 years, we are sending them back, but they are still blocked in my province, why are they not given citizenship when billions of dollars are being invested?” He said that a student visa scheme was launched on their request. He also offered medical assistance to the victims of the recent earthquakes in Afghanistan.

Highlighting the security challenges of the province, Gandapur said, “There is not a single sniper rifle in the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, no police station or officer has a bulletproof vehicle, yet we stand against those who defeated America.” He stressed the need for more investment in the police, noting the shortage of 92 officers and urging the federal government to provide resources.

The chief minister said that past governments had neglected police expenditure, but his administration had ordered 50 bulletproof vehicles and planned to buy more. He said that if the Kacha dacoits were handed over to me, I would teach them a lesson.

Gandapur also spoke about the devastation caused by the recent floods and rains, and described the disaster response in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as timely and effective. He said that most of the families of those killed have been paid compensation, while payments for damaged homes and commercial losses are ongoing.

He said that the disaster could have been avoided if 25 percent of the dam budget had been spent earlier. He also pointed to the recurring problems of landslides in Malakand and Hazara and rejected claims that deforestation was the cause of the recent cloudburst in Buner.

Afghan citizens should be given Pakistani citizenship

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that Pakistan’s wrong policies have made Afghanistan an enemy.

He said that Afghans are being expelled after 40 years but are still confined to their province.

Gandapur questioned why Afghans were not given citizenship despite billions of dollars being invested in the country, and urged them to be given citizenship.