KP CM gets invited to SIFC apex committee meeting today

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur has finally been invited to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) meeting being held today (Saturday).

According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to the meeting only after KP’s governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, intervened

Gandapur was not originally invited by the prime minister who did extend invites to all other chief ministers.

KP CM Ali Amin Khan Gandapur confirming the invitation said he will attend the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) meeting in Islamabad.

“Yes, surely, I will represent my province in the SIFC meeting,” he was quoted as saying.

 The development was also confirmed by the Special Assistant to CM KP on information and public relations, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, who stated that Gandapur will attend the high-level huddle today, as he has been invited by Islamabad.

Earlier, Barrister Saif had criticised the federal government for not inviting the KP chief minister to the SIFC meeting.

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The KP government’s spokesperson lamented the federal government’s prejudice towards the province and its people.

“Ignoring the province and its people from their representation in the Special Investment Facilitation Council is a great injustice to this province,” he said earlier this week.

The apex committee will likely discuss investment promises made by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE has earmarked $10 billion for investment in Pakistan while Saudi Arabia has pledged $5 billion for immediate investment. Saudi investment will likely go into the Reko Diq gold and copper mines project.

 Federal Minister for Interior Affairs and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi will also give a briefing on anti-trafficking operations.

Federal ministers, chief ministers of all four provinces and senior military leadership will also participate in the meeting.