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  "path": "/latest/kp-calls-pen-down-strike-over-discrimination-in-nfc-energy-allocations/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-05T11:17:22.000Z",
  "site": "https://humenglish.com",
  "tags": [
    "Latest",
    "Pakistan",
    "KP calls pen-down strike over ‘discrimination’ in NFC, energy allocations",
    "HUM News English"
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  "textContent": "PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a province-wide pen-down strike on Wednesday (May 6) against what it called “deliberate discrimination” in federal resource distribution, including the National Finance Commission (NFC) award and allocations of electricity and gas.\n\nIn an official statement, the provincial government said the strike was aimed at highlighting grievances over what it described as unfair treatment by the federal government in financial and administrative matters.\n\nChief Minister Sohail Afridi said the province was being “economically pressured” and sidelined, particularly in decisions related to the NFC award and energy payments.\n\n“The federal government is treating Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unfairly in several important matters,” Afridi said, announcing the protest call.\n\nHe said that since Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is governed by Pakistan’s most popular leader, Imran Khan, the province is being subjected to discrimination by the federal government.\n\nHe alleged that deliberate discrimination is being carried out against the province in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, as well as in electricity and gas allocations.\n\nAfridi said a province-wide pen-down strike will be observed on May 6, while emergency services will remain exempt.\n\nHe further said that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are not being provided medical treatment under the supervision of their personal physicians.\n\nAfridi said denying Imran Khan permission to meet his family and lawyers is inhumane and illegal.\n\nThe chief minister appealed to lawyers who uphold the constitution and law to participate in the strike.\n\nThe statement said government employees across the province would observe a pen-down strike by suspending routine official work, while emergency and essential services would remain functional.\n\nAfridi also urged lawyers and civil society members to join the protest, appealing to those committed to constitutional and legal principles to participate.\n\nThe announcement is expected to heighten tensions between Islamabad and the provincial government, which have repeatedly clashed over fiscal transfers, resource sharing and administrative authority.\n\nNo immediate response was issued by the federal government regarding the allegations or the planned strike.\n\n### Long-running NFC dispute\n\nThe protest comes amid an ongoing dispute over the National Finance Commission formula, which determines the distribution of federal revenues among Pakistan’s provinces.\n\nThe National Finance Commission has been working on a new award, with provinces divided over claims linked to the merger of former tribal districts into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.\n\nThe KP government argues it is entitled to a higher share of federal resources following the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which added an estimated 6.1 million people to the province’s population.\n\nIt has demanded an increase in its NFC share and arrears of nearly 980 billion rupees since 2018 through an interim arrangement.\n\nOther provinces, including Punjab and Sindh, have resisted retrospective changes, arguing that constitutional allocations cannot be altered without consensus.\n\nSindh’s representative has said the province will not support any interim award, while Punjab has maintained that the NFC does not have a mandate to issue such adjustments.\n\nThe federal government has said it is open to addressing legitimate concerns, but insists that a consensus-based approach is required.\n\nThe dispute has also extended to issues such as net hydel profit payments and funding for internally displaced persons, with KP claiming it receives less than its due share compared to other provinces.\n\nOfficials say negotiations are ongoing, but no agreement has yet been reached.\n\nThe post KP calls pen-down strike over ‘discrimination’ in NFC, energy allocations appeared first on HUM News English.",
  "title": "KP calls pen-down strike over ‘discrimination’ in NFC, energy allocations"
}