Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s new leadership has announced plans to eliminate interest-based practices from government investments, marking a significant policy shift toward an Islamic economic framework.
Sohail Afridi made the announcement during his first cabinet meeting in Peshawar, where he outlined several ambitious policy goals for the provincial government. The move to establish a riba-free (interest-free) financial system reflects the administration’s commitment to implementing Islamic principles in governance.
During the cabinet session, Afridi expressed gratitude to various political parties for participating in the peace jirga, emphasizing the importance of political unity for provincial stability. He assured that all resolutions passed by the provincial assembly would be fully implemented.
A key priority highlighted by the Chief Minister is ending the Action in Aid of Civil Power law, which has been a contentious issue in the province. This legislation has historically granted special powers to authorities during security operations.
The government also announced the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate the May 9 incident at Radio Pakistan. This commission will examine the circumstances surrounding the event and determine accountability.
Afridi stressed his administration’s commitment to establishing strict merit-based systems across all government departments. He announced zero tolerance for corruption and promised comprehensive updates to outdated provincial laws to meet current needs.
The cabinet meeting set the tone for governance priorities, with emphasis on transparency, Islamic economic principles, and accountability. Legal experts and economists are watching closely to see how these ambitious reforms will be implemented practically, particularly the transition to interest-free government investments.
