K-P scraps FATA development authority

Approves bills about changes in marriage laws, sets up legal aid body for women

PESHAWAR: As part of the new local government reforms, the provincial government has decided to divide the provincial capital into four tehsils. Moreover, it has decided to scrap a development authority which managed the erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (Fata) since the merger had left it redundant.

Elections of teachers have also been postponed in a bid to depoliticize the education sector.

This was decided during a meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) cabinet in Peshawar on Friday. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, K- P Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said that a 31 point agenda was taken up during the meeting, including the proposal to create new Tehsils in Peshawar under the amended local government bill.

In this regard, he said that the cabinet discussed plans of dividing the city and its rural areas in the urban centre of the city, Mattani area, Shah Alam area, and the Saddar Cantonment area.

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“The delimitation will soon be made public,” the information minister said.

The cabinet also approved amendments proposed to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) 1898, in sections about the authorization of special magistrates to hear cases related to forest, minerals, adulteration in edible items, government lands, encroachments, Municipal services, building control and motor vehicle rule violations.

Legal aid

The provincial cabinet also approved the K-P Legal Aid Bill which will enable women to pursue cases on their rights in courts smoothly.

Under the bill, a legal aid agency will be formulated whose sole purpose would be to facilitate women who are unable to bear expenses of litigation.

Family laws

The provincial cabinet, he added, has also accorded its consent to amend the Muslim Family Laws Act to the extent of the Shia community, whereby community members will be provided a solution to issues of divorce and inheritances matters — as approved by the National Assembly.

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“We have also inserted a clause into the Nikkahnama under the K-P population plan that newly married couples are cognizant of family planning,” Yousafzai said, adding that new Nikkah forms with the clause will come into force soon.

The provincial cabinet also approved the Reproductive Healthcare and Rights Bill-2019, and will now be presented before the provincial assembly. The bill is aimed at creating awareness amongst the public about family planning and the relevant department will be responsible for facilitating married couples in this regard.

Yousafzai added that the cabinet has also approved amendments to Succession Act of 1925 (which governs inheritances) under which the National Database and Regulatory Authority (NADRA) will issue letters of administration and succession certificates to legal heirs of deceased people as per their family registration certificate.

Development

In a landmark move, the provincial government decided to scrap the Fata Development Authority (FDA) because the merger of the tribal areas with the settled areas had rendered it redundant.

Yousafzai said that all projects underway by the FDA will be transferred to the relevant departments.

The provincial cabinet has also sanctioned budgets for union councils (UC) and neighbourhood councils (NBC) of four districts including Peshawar, Haripur, Bannu and Swat under the Local Government Act. These UCs and NBCs could not get their budgets passed from the relevant forum.

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The information minister explained that under the law, the provincial government retains the authority to sanction funds for any specific union council and neighbourhood union councils.

A board of directors for Shelter Homes set up in the province were also approved. The province will have as many as five shelter homes in the first phase which will accommodate the homeless people of the province.

The provincial cabinet also approved a budget for acquiring 54 Kanals of land from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at the Khanpur Dam in Haripur to allow the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) to set up a grid station.

Posts of some 157 Road Inspectors in the Communication and Works Department were restored. These inspectors will be tasked with ensuring the quality of roads reconstructed or rehabilitated after flood damage.

The cabinet also approved the blacktopping the 35-kilometre-long Malamjaba Road for Rs22.52 million. It also directed release compensation to those affected by the construction of the Swat Expressway and tunnel.

Education

Adviser to the Chief Minister on Education Ziaullah Bangash, who was flanking Yousafzai, said that they were trying to eliminate political interference in the education sector of the province. In this regard, he said that they had decided to postpone the upcoming elections for teacher unions.

The provincial government has also taken notice of financial crises in universities of the province, Bangash said.

“The CM has invited the vice-chancellors of all universities and soon all issues will be sorted,” the education adviser said.

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The cabinet also approved a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to ensure the provision of missing facilities including electricity, water supply, furniture, boundary walls, additional rooms, IT labs and others at government higher secondary schools.

The cabinet approved the amendment in Emergency Rescue Service Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Act 2012 under which the qualification and eligibility conditions for recruitment of District Emergency Officer BS-18 and Emergency Officer BS-17 would be made part of the act.

Health

The cabinet also approved arbitration boards to resolve the grievances of staff in Medical Teaching Institutes. These boards, the government officials said, will be headed by retired judges of the high court.

Yousafzai said that the cabinet has also approved Health Professional Allowances for doctors working in various teaching facilities.

A Power Crusher Act has also been approved by the cabinet under which all those crushing units polluting the surrounding areas will face action.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2019.