K-P may reopen tourism sector after August 14

The government is likely to reopen the tourism industry in the province after the Independence Day celebrations on August 14

This was disclosed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Finance and Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra on Tuesday.

Speaking on the floor of the provincial assembly, Jhagra said that the provincial government has decided to reopen the tourism sector after August 14, provided there is no surge in novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases - which had prompted the government to impose a province-wide lockdown and then a smart lockdown.

Other sectors in the province, he said, will also be reopened in a phase-wise manner.

The session of the provincial assembly resumed on Tuesday with K-P Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani in the chair.

An uproar was witnessed in the session as members of the opposition raised the issue of increased flour and flatbread prices in the province.

Presenting a flatbread in the provincial assembly, Awami National Party (ANP) lawmaker Khushdil Khan told the house that it cost Rs20, far above the official rate.

He asked if there was any administrative officer in any district of the province who could effectively monitor and control the prices of bread and flour.

He went on to ask why most officers on key posts in the district administrations are from Punjab.

Responding to Khushdil’s assertions, K-P Food Minister Qalander Lodhi told the house that the price for a flatbread weighing 115 grammes had been affixed at Rs10, while the price of a 20-kilogramme bag of wheat flour was being provided for Rs860 in the markets.

Conceding that the prices of flatbread in the province are high when compared to Punjab, Lodhi explained that this is because K-P has to import wheat and flour.

Meanwhile, Speaker Ghani warned all deputy commissioners to ensure that the government-fixed prices of flatbread and the 20kg bag of flour are strictly enforced otherwise they will be terminated from their services.

He further directed the K-P chief secretary to appear before the assembly and explain the situation regarding the prices of flour.

The issue of sexual assault against minors was also raised during the session.

ANP lawmaker Shahida Waheed told the house that a case of sexual assault against a minor had been registered in the Gulabad area of Charsadda district before Eidul Azha. Despite the passage of at least four days, no progress had been made in the case.

To this, K-P Minister for Social Welfare Dr Hasham Inamullah Khan told the house that a bill for curbing the menace of sexual assault against children has been submitted to the provincial cabinet, which is expected to be approved in its next meeting.

Local government bill

The provincial assembly also passed the First Amendment Local Government Bill, 2020.

K-P Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Information and Local Government Kamran Bangash had tabled the bill. Bangash said that per the amendment, a union council will consist of 15,000 people. Moreover, if a chairperson of a tehsil council is not elected, the chief minister will be authorised to nominate a representative for the provincial finance commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2020.