No chance of KP’s default, salaries to be paid from today: Minister

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance and Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra Monday termed the news about the province's default on social media fake and baseless, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 
Addressing a press conference along with Provincial Minister for Higher Education Kamran Bangash, he said that the employees of the province will start getting salaries from today (Monday). 
He said that the federation is politicizing the transfer of funds under the electricity profit agreement between the federation and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The federation is fighting an economic battle with the province on political grounds”, he said. 
They said that the province used to get monthly electricity profit during the PTI government, which made the economic affairs of the province smooth. 
After the change of government, not a single rupee of electricity was transferred to the province in net profit from April to September, they added. 
The finance and Health Minister said that the province had to bear a loss of up to 30 billion owing to the arrears. “We raised the issues like budget provision and deduction of tribal districts at every forum, but to no avail,” he said, adding that the flood disaster has also badly affected the economy of the province. 
They said the federal government should show seriousness for the economic stability of the provinces. 
They also alleged that the federal government estimates the budget of tribal districts without consulting the province. “In the last six months, the province has invested 45 to 60 billion rupees in tribal districts”, they added. 
They said if NFC had been held, we would have spent whatever share was given to the tribal districts. But until NFC is held, the federation is responsible for raising the budget of the tribal districts, they hinted. 

Taimur Jhagra observed that if Sindh needs doctors or other medical assistance for flood victims, KP is ready to help.