Till I am here, people of KP will have the first right to its resources: Kundi

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi emphasized that the residents of the province were entitled to its resources first. He firmly stated, "No one should believe that foreigners will come and plunder this province. Until I am the governor, the people of KP will have the first right to its resources." While speaking at a ceremony in Peshawar, Kundi highlighted that only a third-party, either foreign or Pakistani, could engage in a joint venture with the locals if they so wish.

As the governor in charge following the imposition of governor's rule and emergency in KP, Kundi declared that his top priority was safeguarding the people of KP, followed by the welfare of the province itself and then the broader interests of Pakistan. His remarks came in response to allegations made by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman that the governor's rule and emergency were linked to the government's desire to seize control of KP's resources.

During a recent session in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned the government's stance on mineral resources, criticizing the central government over the emergency and governor's rule in KP.

Social media has been abuzz with claims that KP's minerals might be given away or sold to the United States. However, Kundi did not specifically address these allegations during his address. Instead, he reassured the public that several reports would be circulating in the media and on social media. Despite the diversity of KP's resources, Kundi reiterated that his primary concern was the protection of the people of KP. This statement followed an overview of the province's wealth of resources.