K-P approves Rs999m for Insaf Taleem Card

Wheat support price raised to Rs3,000 per 40 kg

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet on Tuesday approved Rs998.500 million for Insaf Taleem Card to help needy college students with their studies.

The cabinet also okayed enhancing the current support price of wheat from Rs2,600 per 40 kg to Rs3,000 per 40 kg to encourage the growers.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that the launch of the Insaf Taleem Card was a revolutionary step, which will ensure the provision of free education to the needy college students.

The chief minister directed strict implementation of the e-tendering policy to bring transparency and fair play in the functions of the nation building departments.

Minister for Higher Education Kamran Bangash and Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif while briefing journalists said that the Insaf Taleem Card was the second flagship project of the provincial government, which will benefit millions of students.

The cabinet sanctioned the revision of forest duty on various forest produce to increase the rate of timber in the local market.

The forest duty on blue pine has been increased from the existing Rs40 per cubic feet to Rs50 per cft while that of the chir, fir, spruce, chilghoza, Quetta pine and conifers increased from Rs35 per cft to Rs40.

Similarly, the cabinet approved inclusion of ‘The Minamata Convention on Mercury’ in the schedule of the Environmental Protection Act, 2014.

The appointment of Dr Syed Subhanullah Shah, a retired professor, as Member Technical (BS-21), Environmental Protection Tribunal Peshawar for a term of three years was also approved.

Saif further informed reporters that the cabinet also accorded approval to extend Health Professional Allowance (HPA) to the assistant director homeo, tibb (BS-17) and homeopathic doctors and tabbibs (BS-16) serving in various government- run health facilities of the province.

The renaming the Category-D Hospital Maidan Dir Lower as ‘Shaheed Malik Jehan Alam Hospital Maidan Dir-Lower’ as a token of recognition for the services rendered by Malik Liaqat Ali MPA and his family for the area were also okayed.

Malik Jehan Alam was martyred on August 6 during an assassination attempt on the life of his brother MPA Malik Liaqat Ali.

He further said that the cabinet also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tuberculosis Notification Rules, 2022, adding that cabinet agreed to support the World Bank’s National Health Support Project (NHSP) for strengthening primary health care in the province.

The allocation for K-P under the NHSP is $72.7 million which included $50.9 million as loan.

During the meeting the cabinet also approved the draft agreement between the Provincial Housing Authority (PHA), and Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority for the construction of 1,320 flats at Jalozai Housing Scheme, Nowshera.

Similarly, the cabinet also approved budget and revised estimates for the financial year 2021- 22 and budget estimates for the financial year 2022-23 in respect for PHA.

The extension of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education and Training Institution Ordinance 1971 to Cadet College Mamad Gat (Mohmand) was also sanctioned.

Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Research Endowment Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with the purpose to include public sector colleges also approved.

The cabinet, they further said, also approved the mutation of 100 Canal state land in the name of Higher Education Department for permanent establishment of the Gomal University Tank campus.

It also okayed the transfer of nine kanal and 11 marla state land for the construction of food grain godowns in the merged Kurram.