K-P doctors to get extension

Govt sends summary for contracts of doctors hired during Covid

PESHAWAR:

With a second wave of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic slowly emerging, the provincial government has sent a summary to the cabinet seeking to extend the contracts of doctors who were hired during the health emergency.

This was disclosed by Special Assistant to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister for Information Kamran Bangash on Monday during the question-answer session of the K-P Assembly. The session was held with K-P Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani in the chair.

On a point of objection, Opposition Leader Akram Durrani said that some 1,112 contractual doctors were recruited during the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. He demanded that all such contractual doctors should be regularised given their sacrifices.

The special assistant on information said that they have proposed to extend contracts of all such doctors by six months, adding that these doctors are being given extraordinary incentives.

Bangash added that the government is also creating jobs by facilitating the private sector during the pandemic. In this regard, he pointed to how taxes were waived on the construction industry to provide it with a boost.

Nighat Orakzai, of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), backed Durrani’s demand for regularising doctors, adding that there is no service structure for medical practitioners nor is there a system of promotions.

She asked who will treat patients if a second wave of the pandemic hits the country.

Further, the PPP leader criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for failing to fulfil his promise of providing 10 million jobs. Instead, Orakzai said, he had snatched employment from the common man.

Meanwhile, a commotion was created during the session when members of the opposition raised questions over the constitutional status of the special assistant to the chief minister on information responding to questions on behalf of ministers.

The special assistant, however, fired back at the opposition members and answered all questions posed in the absence of the relevant ministers.

Bangash pointed out that there was no room for objection after the speaker had ruled on the matter. He reiterated that he will answer the opposition benches.

Inayatullah of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) protested over the postponement of four questions due to the absence of the relevant ministers. He pointed to four ministers sitting in the house but holding other portfolios and said that the provincial cabinet is collectively responsible for running the affairs of government.

He demanded that those ministers answer their questions instead of the special assistant.

Action on BTT graft

MPA Sardar Khan raised the issue of corruption detected in the Billion Tree Tsunami (BTT) project in the Kalam valley.

The special assistant on information assured that an inquiry against the six nurseries in Kalam has been completed and that action will be taken soon.

Special Assistant to K-P Chief Minister on Excise and Taxation Ghazan Jamal said that the department has registered some 31 first information reports (FIRs) under the new law.

He pointed out that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) only takes action at airports or the borders while the action in the rest of province is taken by the excise department.

K-P Minister for Minerals Shaukat Yousufzai defended deforestation in Gabin Jabba, stating that it was carried out through a careful process.

He further explained that promoting tourism is a priority for the government and reiterated that they are the protectors of forests, not destroyers.

Resolution on blasphemous publications

The provincial assembly unanimously approved a resolution against the publication of sacrilegious caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in France. Prime Minister Imran Khan was also hailed for his response to the incident.

PTI member Dr Sumaira Shams, who had tabled the motion, said that protecting Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) respect was obligatory for everyone.

She added that the caricatures had created unrest amongst Muslims around the world.

The assembly also approved a resolution regarding the free-distribution of facemasks amongst students in public schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2020.