Gandapur convenes APC for tribal peace

Cabinet approves legal overhaul, aid for families

PESHAWAR:

The 35th meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Cabinet was held on Friday, presided over by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur.

Briefing media on the meeting's decisions, Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, said the Chief Minister announced plans to convene an All Parties Conference next week. The initiative aims to build political consensus and formulate a joint strategy for establishing long-term peace in terrorism-affected areas, particularly in the tribal belt.

Highlighting recent peace efforts, the Chief Minister noted that the restoration of calm in District Kurram was made possible through government-led negotiations with tribal elders and jirgas. He expressed hope that similar models could help bring peace to other restive regions.

The Cabinet also discussed reforms to the 3MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) law, emphasizing the need to prevent its misuse. The Chief Minister compared it to the outdated Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), stressing that its implementation must now require prior approval from the Home Department.

On the topic of natural disasters, the Chief Minister urged all political actors to refrain from politicizing human tragedies and reiterated K-P's readiness to assist other provinces in times of need.

The Cabinet approved Rs5 million in compensation for each family of K-P martyrs affected by Indian aggression and Rs10 million for the family of Maulana Khanzeb, who was martyred in a terrorist attack.

Several key legal and administrative reforms were approved, including the K-P Agriculture Income Tax Rules 2025, the Environmental Audit Rules 2025, and the Environmental Protection (Sealing or Seizing) Rules 2025. A cabinet committee was formed to review a proposal to remove the death penalty clause from the K-P Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 2019.

To support citizens with critical health needs, financial assistance of Rs48.1 million was sanctioned for four patients — Rozina, Anas Khan, Muhammad Aman, and Muhammad Azlan —  for life-saving treatments.

In education, the Cabinet approved the handover of Dir Model School Dodba for establishing a Khyber Medical University Institute of Health Sciences campus in Upper Dir. It also authorized land acquisition worth Rs38.69 million for a project to supply Swat River water to Mingora via gravity flow.

Cost adjustments were also approved for health initiatives, including an increase in funding for the Health Management Information System Phase-II, from Rs318.5 million to Rs375.2 million.

Administrative decisions included appointments to the Paraplegic Center Board of Governors, the K-P Child Protection and Welfare Commission, and the posting of the Health Foundation's Managing Director.

Under the Provincial Action Plan, the Cabinet sanctioned the installation of RFID and machine-readable number plates for already-profiled non-custom paid (NCP) vehicles, clarifying that the move would not involve any tax collection.