K-P cabinet members given a week to improve performance

CM Mahmood wants weekly schedules of all ministers, still investigating those who conspired

PESHAWAR: Days after three provincial cabinet members were sacked for allegedly trying to oust the chief minister, Mahmood Khan on Tuesday threw down the gauntlet to the remaining ministers to either improve their performance or get ready to go home.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan issued these directions during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Curiously, the directions were issued after Mahmood asked all government officials present in the meeting room to leave to hold a meeting just with the provincial ministers.

He directed all provincial ministers to send their weekly schedule to him so that he is fully aware of what each minister is doing.

Briefing about the cabinet meeting, K-P Information Minister Shaukat Yousufzai told the media that Mahmood had defined his working policy to the ministers and directed them to improve their performance.

He added that the attendance of all ministers in their offices will be checked while everything will be done on a fast-track basis.

Yousafzai said that Mahmood disclosed how nine provincial assembly lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were allegedly involved in conspiring against the provincial government and that they will soon receive show-cause notices.

“The chief minister has openly announced before the cabinet that neither he will be involved in any illicit activity, nor will he allow anybody to do so,” Yousafzai said.

“The chief minister has the complete backing of the prime minister and some seven to nine MPAs involved in conspiracies to remove Mahmood will now get show-cause notices,” he said, adding, investigations with two-three MPAs is still underway to determine the complete extent of the issue.

Moreover, the information minister noted that there had been a shift in the chief minister’s tone on Tuesday and for the first time he gave a hard deadline.

Further, he said that the CM has directed all provincial ministers to focus on their respective districts and resolve public complaints. Moreover, Mahmood will meet with MPAs every day from 4 pm-6 pm to resolve their issues.

Yosafzai said that all departments had been directed to monitor corrupt activities within them and to point out the culprits within a month.

“They will be sacked,” he added.

Moreover, he said that the chief minister had pointed out deficiencies in some departments including health, natural resources, public health engineering and others and these departments were exhorted to make greater efforts to bring improvements.

On the recent flour crisis, he said that the province has flour reserves which can last until April. He went on to warn against the creation of an artificial crisis, noting that those responsible will face strict action.

Further, the information minister said that all departments have been asked to point out vacant seats in them so that they can be addressed.

Yousafzai said that the environment minister has been directed to expedite work on completing the billion tree tsunami project.

The minister claimed that the administrative officers will also get a warning from the chief minister very soon.

Talking about the proposed extension in the provincial cabinet, Yousufzai said that the portfolios of the sacked ministers will be given to those who are already part of the government’s team. However, he confirmed that the cabinet will induct two women members.

Asked about the financial crunch universities of the province are facing, Yousufzai assured that they will bring all universities out of crisis very soon. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2020.