K-P okays shuhada package for 98 families

Cabinet approves twin cities pact with China, Uzbekistan

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved a shuhada package for 98 families of slain constables belonging to the special police force.

A meeting of the cabinet discussing different agendas was held with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair on Friday.

The provincial cabinet also okayed signing of an agreement with China and Uzbekistan under which three cities of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, two cities of China and one city of Uzbekistan will be declared as twin cities. These include Xichang (China) and Haripur, Komang, (China) and Abbottabad and Tarmeez (Uzbekistan) and Peshawar.

The CM directed all administrative secretaries to ensure framing of rules in their departments under the Acts passed by the provincial assembly within one month timeline and reports to this effect should be presented in the next cabinet meeting.

The cabinet discussed 18 regular and five additional agenda items. The cabinet approved amendments in Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Rules whereby technical staff will be recruited for efficient operationalization of skills laboratory under PGMI. The institute is working under the administrative control of health department and playing an effective role for the education and training of health staff. The cabinet also okayed signing of an agreement with China and Uzbekistan.

The cabinet also approved K-P Schools Bags (limitation and weight) Rules 2021. The provincial assembly has already passed the bill. Under the rules various punishments/fines have been proposed for the violators of public and private schools. The landmark legislation will ease burden of the school-going children carrying heavy bags and address the negative impact on the health of students, particularly the little kids.

The cabinet also approved amendment in K-P Protected Forest Management Rules 2005. This will ensure payment of royalty to the owners.

The cabinet approved an additional grant of Rs525 million for evacuation of dumped timber at Arandu Chitral to Chakdarra. The total confiscated timber is 1.494 cubic feet. In order to ensure self-sufficiency in power production and generate maximum electricity through hydel potential of K-P, the cabinet approved a ten-year draft business model and strategy to ensure financing of ongoing and new hydel projects.

The cabinet on the recommendations of PHC also approved appointment of Barrister Asfandiyar Khan as member Legal Environment Protection Tribunal on contractual basis. Furthermore, the cabinet gave a go-ahead for the provision of additional land for the establishment of Engineering University and Khyber Medical University in Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2021.