K-P to challenge amendments in SC

Cabinet approves establishment of Debt Management Fund and its rules

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Wednesday approved the filing of a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court against the proposed constitutional amendment by the federal government

The cabinet also took another historic lead by approving the establishment of a Debt Management Fund and formulated and approving rules for it too.

The Cabinet met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur.

In view of the surging debt servicing costs and the adverse impact of depreciation of local currency, this fund is essential to manage the province' debt obligations effectively and ensure the financial sustainability.

Meanwhile the provincial cabinet formally expressed its regret over the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety's decision to obtain a $118.4 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank for the 'Poverty Graduation of Extremely Poor & Flood Affected Households Project' in K-P.

With regard to the filing of constitutional petition against the proposed constitutional amendment, the cabinet held that both the national assembly and the senate were incomplete at the moment because the PTI has not been given its reserved seats, so no amendment of such important implications could be enacted.

The provincial cabinet approved a recurring grant of Rs1.5 billion for public sector universities in the province. Since 2018, the Higher Education Commission's annual grants to universities in the province have been frozen. Following the 18th amendment, higher education has become a provincial responsibility, requiring the province to independently fund its universities. Despite substantial efforts over the past four years to increase self-generated income – achieving 84.5% growth – the revenue generated internally remains inadequate to meet the rising financial demands of the universities. Older universities, in particular, are grappling with unresolved liabilities relating to pensions and salaries.

The meeting also approved the constitution of an academic search committee for the appointment of vice chancellors in public sector universities. Prof. Dr. Kausar A Malik will serve as the convener of the committee, along with other members which include Prof. Dr. Anwarul Hassan, Prof. Dr. M Aslam Baig and Prof. Dr. Sara Safdar. A performance evaluation committee for vice chancellors in public sector universities was also constituted for a period of two years. The committee will include Dr. Shafiqur Rehman, Prof. Dr. Zahir Shah and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akmal.

The cabinet sanctioned the unfreezing of the ADP project for the establishment of the Government Degree College Boi, Abbottabad. It also approved the replacement of vehicle for the District Court Kurram and an additional grant of Rs9,934,000 for the purchase of a vehicle for the official use of an judge of the Peshawar High Court.