K-P cabinet to take up Covid-19 ordinance today

Merger of Khasadar force into regular police expected

PESHAWAR: The provincial cabinet in its meeting today (Thursday) will discuss 15-point agenda including approval for the promulgation of an ordinance to tackle the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister will preside over the meeting which will be briefed on the coronavirus situation in the province along with other pressing issues.

The meeting would be informed about the provincial government’s response to the Covid-19 and future course of action to stem the virus in the province.

A top government official familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that the promulgation of an ordinance was aimed to empower the provincial government for taking necessary actions to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The cabinet meeting is also expected to approve the forensic science agency bill and establishment of courts for curbing the menace of drugs in the province.

Approval of the bill to merge Khasadar force into the regular police force and shifting of anti-terrorism cases of Mohmand district from the provincial capital to the Mardan district would also be approved.

It would also approve amendments to K-P Local Government Act 2013, and sanction rules on local government’s demarcation. The meeting would also approve the availing of helicopters.

The provincial cabinet is also expected to approve the establishment of a provincial power management and transmission company. The cabinet will also discuss amendments to the K-P Medical Teaching Institutions Act, 2018, and the provision of tablets and computers to teachers.

The provincial cabinet would also approve the MTI amendment act and provisions of computers and laptops to the teachers in the schools.

K-P CM seeks lawmakers help against Covid-19

CM Mahmood called upon the elected public representatives to play their effective role to educate the public regarding physical distancing and other preventive measures. He urged all the provincial parliamentarians to speak to the public in their respective constituencies.

He has also urged the public representatives to have close coordination with the respective local administration in the prevailing Corona situation to get the government’s instructions and guidelines for social distancing implemented effectively.

The chief minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of MPs from Mardan district comprising Iftikhar Mashwani, Adul Salam Afridi, Malik Shakeel, and Amir Farzand at the CM Secretariat.

CM Mahmood said besides the government and local administrations, all segments of society including the elected representatives should play a role to curb the coronavirus in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2020.