Food act, journalists’ welfare rules okayed

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) cabinet has approved Food Fortification Act 2021, Endowment Fund for Transgender Persons and Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund Rules 2021 in its meeting.

Under the Food Fortification Act fortification of flour, ghee, oil and other food iteams has been made necessary as the absence of major vitamins has been resulting into various health complications especially in women and children. Anemia ratio in women is 34.7 per cent while in children it is 60.8 per cent in the province.

Halal Food Authority will be empowered to impose penalties, on spot inspection, registration of manufacturers, packing. Similarly, laboratories and mobile labs will be established to check the quality of food items. Consumer courts are also part of the act to curb misuse of authority by the officials of food authority.

This was claimed by Special Assistant to Chief Minister K-P Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif while briefing media about the cabinet meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. Cabinet members, Chief Secretary, SMBR and administrative secretaries attended.

Saif said that the cabinet agreed to the demand of Tourism Association of Kaghan Valley, Anjuman-e-Tajiran Nathia Gali and Galiyat Hotel Association and approved to exempt all hospitality sector businesses from previous outstanding liabilities.

The cabinet also approved establishment of Endowment Fund for Transgender Persons initially allocating Rs100 million for the purpose. Through this fund, transgender persons will be provided interest free loans. Similarly, government officers will be trained to facilitate transgender persons.

At the meeting Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund Rules 2021 were approved and Rs1 million will be provided to the family of journalists killed in incidents of terrorism. Similarly, permanently disabled journalist will be given one-time grant of Rs0.2 million. Marriage grant is also part of the package for the children of the journalist to the tune of Rs0.2 million. Journalist with 30 years’ experience will be given Rs10,000 monthly stipend after attaining the 60 year age.

The journalist fired from jobs and jobless for three consecutive months will be given a stipend of Rs10,000 for two months. Similarly, Rs50,000 will be given to the journalist for the death of family member as funeral charges.

Saif said that the cabinet approved rules to implement minimum wages, adding that the cabinet also approved grant-in-aid of Rs150 million for the establishment of ‘Khpal Kor’ Nursing and Health Sciences College at Gul Kada, Swat.

He said that the cabinet gave approval of open government data strategy to ensure openness and transparency which will be accessible on PMRU website.

Similarly, the meeting approved shifting of all sorts of powers of the Pakistan Tobacco Board, except exports, from the center to the province.

After approval, the Provincial Agriculture Department will fix the tobacco rates.

The provincial cabinet also relaxed ban on the procurement of official vehicles for the District and Sessions Judge appointed in Upper Chitral and approved Fiscal Responsibilities and Debt Management Act 2021 with the aim to fix limit for loans, regularize the schedule and procedure of payments.

Saif said that the cabinet empowered the administrator Auqaf to initiate legal proceedings against the publishers for making mistakes intentionally or unintentionally in the publication of the Holy Quran under the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2022.