A significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and Advocacy for Sustainable Policy and Implementation Reforms (ASPIRE-KP) to collaboratively work towards securing the financial and economic rights of the province.The MoU signing ceremony was held in the Speaker’s Chamber of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, while ASPIRE-KP was represented by former Chief Secretary Shehzad Arbab. The MoU was signed by Syed Waqar Shah, Special Secretary of the KP Assembly, and Arbab Muhammad Arif, a member of ASPIRE-KP. Chief Whip of the KP Assembly, MPA Akbar Ayub Khan, was also present on the occasion.Speaker Babar Saleem Swati termed the agreement a historic milestone and emphasized that this partnership would play a crucial role in securing the province’s financial rights and ensuring sustainable economic growth. He stated that all political parties and institutions must work together on a unified economic agenda to guarantee the development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The primary objectives of this MoU include formulating a joint strategy to safeguard the financial and economic rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, developing policy recommendations for the province’s economic growth and financial stability, facilitating investment in key sectors such as hydropower, oil and gas, minerals, and tourism, and bringing political stakeholders together to establish a consensus on the province’s fiscal rights. Additionally, the agreement aims to address the legal, political, and technical aspects of securing pending financial dues from the federal government. Under this collaboration, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will provide a platform for stakeholder consultations, while ASPIRE-KP will offer research and technical assistance to formulate effective strategies for securing the province’s financial rights. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Shehzad Arbab, and other dignitaries expressed confidence that this partnership would contribute significantly to the economic development of the province and the well-being of its people.
