When Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) nearly a decade ago, it promised transformative reforms, development, and prosperity. With slogans of an “Educational Emergency” and declarations of a budget surplus exceeding 100 billion rupees, the PTI administration seemed poised to reshape the province. Yet, in reality, PTI’s governance in KP has left a legacy of unfulfilled promises and deepening crises in education, the economy, security, and infrastructure.
In 2014, PTI’s declaration of an “Educational Emergency” raised hopes that KP’s struggling education system would finally see the improvements it desperately needed. However, after years in power, the reality on the ground reveals a sector in disarray. Teachers across KP recently went on strike, demanding basic pay raises and working conditions improvements—a situation that led to the closure of 26,000 schools, affecting millions of students.
PTI’s claims of a healthy budget surplus ring hollow when thousands of teachers take to the streets, demanding fair treatment and resources. Despite the government’s supposed financial strength, it appears incapable of addressing the needs of those shaping the future of KP’s youth. Instead of classrooms filled with eager students and motivated teachers, KP’s schools are plagued by closures and protests, underscoring a governance model that talks of reform but delivers little.
PTI’s tenure in KP also paints a bleak picture for the province’s economy. Despite holding power for three consecutive terms, KP’s industries and businesses continue to suffer from neglect, mismanagement, and underinvestment. The result has been widespread business closures, soaring unemployment, and a stagnating economy. For a province that relies heavily on local industries, this economic downturn has been devastating, with thousands of families grappling with joblessness and financial insecurity.
While PTI often highlights its political achievements, the province’s economy has been left to flounder. The much-needed investments and infrastructure upgrades for industrial growth have been conspicuously absent. Without a coherent economic strategy, PTI has left KP’s businesses and workers stranded, paying the price for a government more focused on political maneuvering than on actual economic development.
KP’s security landscape has also deteriorated under PTI’s watch. The province, already vulnerable due to its proximity to Afghanistan, has seen a resurgence of terrorist activities in recent years. Despite repeated assurances from PTI that peace and security were top priorities, the government has not managed to curb the growing threat of militancy. The lack of a proactive security strategy has left citizens feeling unsafe and disillusioned, with fears that the province could slip back into instability.
The resurgence of terrorism highlights the PTI government’s failure to address one of the most crucial responsibilities of any administration: ensuring the safety of its people. While PTI leaders often emphasize national security in their rhetoric, their actions on the ground in KP have been insufficient to stem the tide of rising militancy.
The infrastructure in KP tells a similarly grim story. Roads are in disrepair, public facilities are overstretched, and essential services remain substandard, particularly in rural areas. Despite ambitious talk of development and modernization, the province’s structural backbone has suffered from chronic underinvestment. PTI’s governance has focused more on political optics than on delivering the kind of infrastructure projects that could support KP’s economy and improve residents’ quality of life.
PTI’s decade in power in KP has been marked more by political distractions than by effective governance. Instead of focusing on KP’s internal crises—whether economic, educational, or security-related—PTI leaders have concentrated on national protests, political disruptions, and calls for government change. This misplaced focus has left KP’s residents feeling abandoned, their hopes for a “Naya Pakistan” replaced by the harsh reality of unmet needs and unaddressed crises.
Ultimately, PTI’s tenure in KP has not delivered the progress it promised. KP’s residents are left to navigate a struggling economy, a broken education system, and a deteriorating security situation. While PTI continues to tout its achievements, KP’s people see a different reality—one of stagnation, unmet promises, and political neglect.
