PESHAWAR:Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday said journalism and the state were closely interconnected, stressing that the media played a vital role in nation-building and strengthening democratic values, while the spread of misinformation had created new challenges for the profession.
Addressing members of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) at a local hotel here, the Governor welcomed the delegation and appreciated the organization’s longstanding contribution to promoting responsible journalism and national development.

He paid tribute to journalists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their sacrifices during the war against terrorism and said effective measures were being taken to address their financial difficulties, ensure their protection and resolve their professional issues. He assured the participants that constructive suggestions from the media community would be welcomed and every possible support would be extended to resolve journalists’ problems on a priority basis.
Governor Kundi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was currently facing multiple challenges, particularly terrorism, adding that restoration of peace and law and order remained the government’s foremost priority. He said development projects would be pursued with full commitment once lasting peace was ensured.

He said the federal government had provided funds to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the fight against terrorism and added that Governor’s Rule and emergency measures had been imposed under extraordinary circumstances. He said all political parties would be taken into confidence to steer the province towards peace, stability and development, expressing confidence that terrorism would soon be eliminated.
The Governor said the federation and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were on the same page regarding the province’s development and protection of its rights. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approving Rs160 billion in development funds for the province and stressed that provincial policies should be formulated in coordination with the federal government.

He said facilities for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police were being enhanced and salaries of police personnel would be increased to bring them at par with other provinces. He added that a cadet college was being established for the children of police martyrs.
Highlighting environmental concerns, Governor Kundi said excessive tree cutting had adversely affected forests and contributed to climate change. He said practical measures were being taken to promote tourism, while efforts were underway to award mineral contracts to local companies on a priority basis alongside inviting international investors. He also expressed concern over reports of illegal mineral extraction in Kohat’s Shakardara area.

The Governor said previous governments had failed to establish an international-standard stadium and hospital in Peshawar. He said that renovation of Arbab Niaz Stadium (Imran Khan), initiated in 2022, had now been completed, adding that efforts were underway to build a modern international stadium capable of hosting world-class sporting events.
He said legislation for the Safe City project was being pursued, while work on the Northern Bypass and Ring Road projects would be expedited to improve traffic flow and provide better transport facilities to citizens.
Referring to the political situation, Governor Kundi said Maulana Fazlur Rehman was a respected political leader and stressed that while constructive criticism was a democratic right, political differences should not be allowed to turn into personal hostility.