Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREENSHOT
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohaib Afridi has said that inter-provincial trade is a fundamental constitutional right of all provinces under Article 151 of the Constitution, and no province has the legal authority to restrict the movement of food items or grains across borders.
He made the remarks during a meeting with a high-level delegation of the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination, which visited him in Peshawar on Wednesday.
The delegation congratulated Chief Minister Afridi on assuming office and held detailed discussions on governance, economic cooperation and inter-provincial relations.
During the meeting, the issue of restrictions imposed by the Punjab government on free movement of wheat came under special attention. Chief Minister Afridi said that while political differences are part of democracy, essential commodities like food should never become a political tool.
“The right to trade freely between provinces is guaranteed by the Constitution. No province can legally block the supply of food or essential goods to another,” he said. He further noted that disruptions in the movement of wheat and flour not only harm inter-provincial harmony but also directly affect the economic well-being of ordinary citizens.
The Chief Minister underlined the need for a coordinated and sustainable approach to resolve the current wheat supply challenges, emphasizing that effective inter-provincial cooperation is essential to ensure food security and economic stability across Pakistan.
He congratulated the Senate delegation for playing a constructive role in strengthening relations between the federation and provinces and termed them “ambassadors of the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa”.
The delegation included Senators Dilawar Khan, Mohsin Aziz, Naseema Ehsan, Nasir Mahmood, Hidayatullah Khan, Niaz Ahmad and Musaddiq Masood, among others. Advisor to Chief Minister Finance Muzzammil Aslam, Food Secretary Shah Mahmood and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
Chief Minister Afridi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to upholding the constitutional rights of the province while promoting unity, economic growth and mutual respect among all federating units.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Afridi has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of paramedical staff in Mohmand district.
Following his directions, the Establishment Department constituted a special inquiry committee to probe the matter.
According to an official notification issued by the chief secretary’s office, the committee includes Director General Sports Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tashfeen Haider and Additional Secretary Finance Irshad Ali. The commission was directed to complete the investigation and submit its report within seven days.
Chief Minister Afridi stressed that transparency and merit must be strictly followed in all government recruitments. He reiterated that the provincial government would not tolerate nepotism, corruption or any other illegal practices in the hiring process. All appointments, he said, must be made solely on the basis of competence, honesty and fairness.
