PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Monday pledged to raise police salaries and provide law enforcement agencies with more resources to fight terrorism, saying the new provincial administration would “not compromise on police”.
The Governor was addressing a press conference in Peshawar a day after the Centre imposed governor’s rule in the province over the law and order situation.
The Governor stated that he called a meeting on security the previous day and that of the provincial apex committee earlier today.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi @fkkundi has announced that KP Police will no longer remain the most underpaid force in the country.
He said their salaries will be brought at par with other provinces, if not made the highest in Pakistan. All required weapons for Police and CTD will be provided, and a special package for the families of Shuhada is also being prepared.
— War Analyst (@War_Analysts) October 12, 2026
He said the Centre had “shown confidence in us” and to meet its expectations, “our first priority is the fight against terrorism”.
Kundi issued a message to the army, police, Frontier Constabulary (FC) and security institutions, saying: “Our committee, this government, is standing side by side with you and will support you fully.”
The Governor said that all members of the newly-formed advisory council had today taken charge of departments assigned to them, and would share future plans.
He added that during Sunday’s high-level security meeting, it had been decided that development would be the second priority of the new setup while the first would be giving whatever resources were asked for to the police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
“I want to say on behalf of this government that we are by your side,” he said, addressing law enforcers, adding, “Whatever weapons you want, whatever you need, we will get them to you.”
Kundi stressed, “We will not compromise on our police officers and personnel. We will equip them well.”
He added that yesterday, he spoke to the inspector general of police (IGP) and chief secretary, ordering that from now on, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police would no longer have the lowest salaries in the country.
“If they are not the highest, they will at least be equal to those of the personnel in other areas.”
The Governor also said that disbursements under the martyrs’ package would be increased, and the children of martyrs would be given free education.
He also said: “Gone are the days when there was no coordination between the Centre and the province. Gone are the days when we used to fight needlessly with another province … We will have coordination with the Centre; our policies will come from Islamabad … not Kabul, Jalalabad or Kahandar.
“There is light after darkness. The darkness has passed and our journey has begun towards the light.”
Kundi also thanked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa public for “rejecting the circus” that had been ongoing for a few days, referring to the PTI’s long march that began on October 4.
“I thank Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s public that they have rejected this 13-year nuisance,” he said, referring to the PTI’s rule in the province.
The Governor also said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had provided the provincial police 10 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) on behalf of the Centre. He noted that in his earlier meeting with the minister, Naqvi had assured him and the apex committee that police and security forces would be granted as much in funds as they required.
“Our priority, our focus, is peace plus development,” the governor stressed. “We will work 24/7; we will deliver hope to people, to our young people, to the business community … that this is not your fight now, it is ours.”
The Governor called on the business community, saying that he would work with them to solve their issues.
“When there is peace here, people will come to do business and investment and the youth will have employment,” he added.
Kundi also criticised the PTI and asked it to “fight their case” to the Centre, adding, “We will fight our case with arguments, not with abusive language.”
Responding to a question, he said that work was being done on restoring internet services, and that the roads would also be opened up again in a day or two and life would return to normal.
Earlier in the day, Kundi and Naqvi co-chaired a meeting of the provincial apex committee, a day after the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in the province.
Addressing the meeting, Kundi — who is now in charge of running the province — asserted that under the new set-up, tackling terrorism would be the priority.
“We can sacrifice our development, but never security,” Kundi vowed as he noted a “lack of synergy” in counterterrorism efforts in the province.
“Now it will show that there is (synergy),” he said, adding that the administration will “fulfil the demands of the Counter-Terrorism Department and police”. He stressed that the administration will “work 24/7” as the federal government and the “people had put their faith in us”.
“We have to show the difference,” Kundi said, adding that there was no time for holidays or weekends. He stressed that the administration was moving towards “result-oriented” actions, rather than cosmetic measures.
