Kundi Vows Action Against Illegal Afghans

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Monday that action against illegal Afghans living in the province will continue. He said the provincial policy matches the federal government’s stance in full. Afghans who enter Pakistan on valid visas, he added, will be welcomed as guests.

Speaking to the media in Peshawar, the governor said no country allows foreigners to stay without legal status. He said the same rule applies in Pakistan. He added that action will also be taken against Afghan citizens living illegally in the country. Those who arrive with proper visas, he said, will be received as welcome guests.

Illegal Afghans and the encroachment drive

Kundi was firm on the campaign against encroachments. He said the operation to remove illegal structures will continue. He added that no pressure of any kind will be accepted in that regard. Measures started in the public interest, he said, will be sustained.

The governor also spoke about prolonged power load-shedding in the province. He said he will take up the matter with the relevant authorities. At the same time, he reminded the public that electricity is not free. Consumers must pay their bills for the power they use, he said.

Kundi said work is under way to introduce new technology that will improve power distribution and load-shedding. Under the proposed arrangement, load-shedding will be managed at the transformer level rather than the feeder level. He said that change will allow more precise and fair cuts.

Rs160 billion for K-P development

The governor welcomed the federal government’s decision to provide Rs160 billion for development in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He described it as a significant gesture of support. He said 70 per cent of the amount will be spent in areas that have long been deprived of development projects and fair resource allocation.

That share works out to Rs112 billion for historically deprived areas. The split matters because Kundi has repeatedly argued that the province has not received its fair share of resources, as reported in Centre Failing KP, Says Governor Kundi.

Kundi also responded to a question about corruption allegations. He said the law applies equally to everyone. Whether the matter concerns Chief Minister Sohail Afridi or any other individual, he said, legal action must follow if there are credible charges of corruption. He added that no one should be considered above the law when allegations arise.

Why this statement matters

The statement lands at a sensitive moment for the province. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is under governor’s rule, and the provincial administration is trying to show that it can still govern day-to-day matters. Encroachments, power cuts and illegal residency are the issues people meet in daily life. Kundi’s remarks therefore read as an attempt to set the terms of that administration: enforcement will continue, and public money will be spent where need is greatest.

The remarks also connect with the province’s farm economy. Fertiliser Curbs Hit Sowing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa shows how administrative decisions in the province reach farmers directly. In the same way, the Rs160 billion development package will only matter if it reaches deprived districts on time. The KP audit findings reported earlier are a reminder that spending announcements and spending results are two different things.

What happens next

Three tests will show whether the governor’s words turn into results. First, the encroachment drive must continue without picking favourites. Second, the transformer-level load-shedding plan needs a clear timetable from PESCO. Third, the Rs160 billion package needs district-wise detail so that deprived areas can check what they actually receive.

For now, the message from Peshawar is plain. Illegal residency will face action, legal visitors will be welcomed, and development funds are promised with a clear bias toward areas left behind.

Frequently asked questions

What did Governor Kundi say about illegal Afghans?

He said action against Afghan citizens living illegally in Pakistan will continue, because no country permits foreigners to stay without legal status. Afghans who arrive on valid visas will be welcomed as guests.

What did he say about encroachments?

He said the operation to remove illegal structures will continue and no pressure of any kind will be accepted. Measures started in the public interest will be sustained.

How much development funding did he mention?

He welcomed a federal decision to provide Rs160 billion for development in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He said 70 per cent of that amount will be spent in areas historically deprived of development projects and fair resource allocation.

What is the transformer-level load-shedding plan?

Under the proposed arrangement, load-shedding will be managed at the transformer level rather than the feeder level. The governor said that will allow more precise and fair cuts, but he did not give a start date.