K-P to set up forensic science agency, lab

PA approves K-P Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2020

PESHAWAR:

The provincial assembly on Tuesday approved the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2020.

K-P Law Minister Sultan Muhammad Khan had tabled the bill which was unanimously passed by the house.

The provincial government has decided to establish a forensic science agency under the new law which will be headed by a director-general and will operate under the provincial home department. The government will also set up a forensic laboratory under the agency.

The appointment of the director-general will be carried out by a search committee headed by the K-P chief secretary, while the director-general will make further appointments in the agency, including forensic experts.

The forensic agency will be bound to present an annual report to the interior ministry on July 31 every year, which the ministry will then table in the provincial assembly within a month.

The provincial assembly also approved the K-P Antiquities Amendment Act 2020. The house also slashed the fee charged from foreign archaeological research missions from Rs50,000 to Rs25,000.

The law minister said that several new archaeological surveys were underway in the province while the cut in fees is aimed at encouraging foreign archaeological research missions and promote tourism.

In response to a call-to-attention notice regarding the possession of graveyard land for construction of a government high school in the Jandri area of Karak, the law minister said that the relevant committee of the assembly will be requested to look into the issue.

Regarding the KPFO and Rangers Officers of the forest department who have registered cases against people from PK-16, the minister said he had directed the forest department not to take action against people who chop trees from their private lands for domestic purposes.

Marble mine collapse incident

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Nisar Mohmand lambasted the government for its dissatisfactory response towards the tragic incident in Mohmand district where 19 people had been killed after a marble mine collapsed.

ANP lawmakers also staged a walkout for 30 minutes from the House.

Meanwhile, another opposition lawmaker, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Nighat Orakzai walked out from the house against the absence of the concerned department officials for a discussion on her question.

Uplift funds echo again

The opposition benches protested the unfair distribution of uplift funds and threatened they will approach the courts once again in this regard apart from staging a protest outside the chief minister’s house.

The K-P Assembly speaker assured that he will summon a meeting of the opposition and treasury benches in the next few days to address the issue.

Loan scheme for youth

In response to a question of ANP’s Khushdil Khan, the K-P Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra informed the house that the provincial government has decided to initiate a loan scheme for youth. A total of Rs2 billion have been allocated for this purpose, he said, adding that the government has already been providing loans to youth in the merged districts for businesses.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2020.