The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a province-wide pen-down strike on Wednesday, May 6, intensifying its standoff with Islamabad over what it describes as systematic discrimination in resource allocation.
In an official statement, the provincial administration said the move is intended to draw attention to grievances surrounding the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, as well as electricity and gas distribution.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi claimed the province is being economically sidelined, particularly in decisions involving federal financial transfers and energy-related payments.
He argued that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing undue pressure and neglect in key national matters, accusing the federal government of unfair treatment. Afridi further linked the situation to the province’s political alignment, asserting that its association with Imran Khan has contributed to what he termed discriminatory policies.
According to Afridi, disparities in the NFC award and inequities in electricity and gas allocations are central to the province’s concerns. He confirmed that the pen-down strike will involve government employees across KP, though emergency and essential services will remain operational.
The chief minister also raised concerns regarding the treatment of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, alleging that they are not being provided access to medical care under their personal physicians. He further criticized restrictions on meetings with family and legal counsel, calling them unjust and in violation of legal norms.
Afridi urged lawyers, civil society members, and those committed to constitutional principles to join the protest, framing the strike as a broader stand for rights and fairness.
The announcement is likely to deepen tensions between the provincial and federal governments, which have long disagreed over fiscal distribution, administrative authority, and resource sharing.
So far, the federal government has not issued an official response to the allegations or the planned strike.
The backdrop to this escalation is a prolonged dispute over the NFC formula, which determines how federal revenues are distributed among provinces. The issue has grown more complex since the 2018 merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding an estimated 6.1 million people to the province.
KP officials argue that this demographic shift entitles the province to a larger share of resources, including nearly Rs980 billion in arrears under interim arrangements since 2018.
Other provinces, including Punjab and Sindh, have resisted retrospective adjustments. Representatives from Sindh have rejected the idea of an interim award, while Punjab maintains that the NFC lacks the mandate to implement such changes without consensus.
Federal authorities have indicated willingness to address legitimate concerns but emphasize that any revision must be based on mutual agreement among all provinces.
Beyond the NFC, disputes also persist over net hydel profit payments and funding for internally displaced persons, with KP maintaining that it continues to receive less than its due share.
Negotiations remain ongoing, but a resolution appears distant, with the latest strike call signaling a new phase of political and fiscal confrontation.
