Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has criticised the federal government for not providing the province with the support it merits, calling for urgent action to improve healthcare and extend modern treatment beyond major cities.
Speaking at the Pakistan Association of Urological Surgeons’ annual conference in Peshawar on Sunday, Kundi said the province could no longer be neglected. He urged practical improvements to its health sector, drawing on the approaches taken in Punjab and Sindh.
Specialised care for underserved districts
The governor called for quality healthcare, including specialised services, in the merged districts, southern districts and remote parts of KP. Access to modern treatment should be available equally to all citizens rather than concentrated in large urban centres, he said.
According to a statement, Kundi identified several priorities for strengthening the provincial healthcare system:
- Upgrading health infrastructure.
- Providing modern medical equipment.
- Improving training for doctors.
- Supporting medical research.
He said medical conferences helped practitioners share knowledge, discuss research and learn about newer treatment methods. Professional bodies such as the Pakistan Association of Urological Surgeons could also strengthen doctors’ skills, train young medical professionals and build cooperation with public hospitals.
House officers’ pay to be reviewed
Kundi also raised the pay of house officers, describing their monthly salary of Rs70,000 as inadequate. He said the amount would be reviewed.
Peace and development at separate Peshawar gathering
In a separate address at Darbar-i-Aalia Murshadabad Sharif in Peshawar, the governor said durable peace was necessary for KP’s prosperity. He urged all sections of society to help improve the province’s image and asked religious scholars to encourage tolerance, oppose extremism and promote harmony.
Kundi recalled the sacrifices made during decades of terrorism by religious scholars, security personnel, politicians and students, including those killed at Army Public School. He said the province’s resilience should now carry it towards stability and development.
He also called for opportunities for young people in sports and other fields, citing internationally recognised sportspersons from Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu. Better use of oil, gas, water resources, tourism potential and the Tarbela Dam could help transform the provincial economy, he said.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the governor’s adviser Tayab Qureshi were among those attending the ceremony, according to an official statement. Kundi congratulated newly graduated Huffaz, presented certificates and visited the institution’s library.
