PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has vehemently opposed the federal government’s Gandhara Corridor Bill, denouncing it as a blatant interference in the provincial government’s affairs and an attack on provincial autonomy.
Responding to the federal government move, Adviser to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tourism, Culture, and Archaeology, Zahid Chanzeb termed it an attack on provincial autonomy.
The bill, recently presented by MNA Ramesh Kumar from Sindh, was rejected outright by Chanzeb, who demanded its immediate withdrawal. He said that if Kumar intends to propose such legislation, it should pertain to the archaeological relics of his home province, Sindh, where significant sites like Harappa and Mohenjodaro are located.
Chanzeb highlighted that following the 18th constitutional amendment, matters concerning tourism, culture, museums, and archaeology are solely within the jurisdiction of the provincial government. He expressed disappointment over Kumar’s establishment of the Gandhara Culture Authority through the Gandhara Culture Authority Act 2023 during the previous caretaker setup, which he deemed a direct challenge to provincial autonomy.
The Tourism and Archaeology Adviser clarified that nearly all of the Gandhara Civilization’s antiquities, which constitute a vital source of income, are situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Therefore, he emphasized the need for an amicable resolution to the matter by the provincial government.
