K-P announces Rs32b aid package

Market closures, lockdowns extended across province

PESHAWAR: The provincial government on Friday announced an Rs32 billion relief package for the 35.6 million residents of the province apart from extending the closures of schools, markets and offices in the province as part of measures to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

It follows an Rs1.2 trillion aid package announced by the federal government a few days ago.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the provincial cabinet on Friday which met with Khyber-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair.

Addressing a news conference after the cabinet meeting, the chief minister said that under the package, around 1.9 million households of vulnerable segments of society including daily wagers, labourers and others, will be provided monthly financial relief worth Rs5,000 each (or around Rs9.5 billion). He added that this package has been earmarked for three months but can be extended depending on the situation.

CM Mahmood hoped that around 43 per cent of the province’s population will stand to benefit from the package in these dire times.

For the business community, he said that the provincial government had decided to waive off the collection of provincial taxes worth Rs5 billion. Similarly, extensions have been given to businesses who have to repay loans issued by the Bank of Khyber (BoK).

Mahmood explained that this package has been announced for an initial phase and that should the need arise, the provincial government is ready to cut down the annual development programme and directly spend the earmarked funds on public welfare.

“A special food package has also been approved for the people of the locked-down area of Maanga in Mardan district, which will be further increased,” he remarked.

Mahmood lauded the role of the frontline health workers, police, rescuers, district administration and all other bodies who are fighting against Covid-19.  He also expressed his gratitude to the owners of markets, shopping malls, restaurants and other places of public gathering for keeping their establishments shut and to the general public for their cooperation with the government in minimizing social contact and public gatherings.

Mahmood hoped that they will soon be able to overcome the crises.

Later, while providing details of the cabinet’s decisions, Adviser to Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that the cabinet has approved Rs4 billion for dedicated quarantine centres. Of this, Rs1 billion will be released immediately.

The cabinet, Wazir said, had decided to raise 500 rapid response teams to deal with the pandemic. These teams will go door-to-door and help every family across the province.

Wazir further said that the cabinet has decided to hire retired health workers and medical students and other professionals on daily wages to support health workers of the province.

In line with the decision of the federal government, he said that the provincial cabinet has decided to extend the closure of educational institutions until May 31. The ban on government and public events and marriages has also been extended to April 30.

Moreover, except for essential departments, all other government offices will remain closed until April 5, he said. The adviser maintained that the ban on religious festivities and other public gatherings will remain in place until April 30. With some exemptions, he said that all intra and inter-district transports will also remain suspended until April 5.

Wazir also said that tests and interviews for recruitments in the government, except for essential services, will remain suspended until May 31.

All markets will remain closed until April 10, however, couriers and money transfer services will be exempted from this ban.

Owing to the health emergency, the adviser said that all outpatient departments (OPDs) and dental services at tertiary care and District Headquarters (DHQs) Hospitals will remain suspended for a week.

Those juvenile and female prisoners who cannot afford their bail bonds will be released after the government pays the bonds.

The provincial cabinet has allowed industrial units to resume production, provided they are producing daily use utilities and that they strictly comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines outlined by the government.

He also said that the cabinet has approved 17.5 billion for purchasing 4 lac 50 thousand tons of wheat to meet current requirements of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2020.