K-P sets Dec deadline for good governance

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has issued a clear directive to Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across the province: meet the key public service delivery targets set under the provincial government's Good Governance Roadmap by December or face accountability.

Chairing the Deputy Commissioners Conference at the CM House Peshawar, Gandapur outlined a comprehensive performance framework covering seven critical sectors: health, education, agriculture, livestock, tourism, social welfare, and local government.

The event was attended by provincial cabinet members, the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, relevant administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners, and DCs from all districts.

The roadmap sets out specific goals to be achieved within the deadline. In the health sector, all Primary Health Centres are to be equipped with essential medicines, equipment, and full medical staff by the end of the year. In education, the focus is on ensuring 100 per cent teacher and student attendance and providing all missing facilities in government schools. The agriculture sector has been tasked with ensuring availability of fertilizers, seeds, agricultural machinery, and pesticides at Farm Service Centers.

The livestock sector must guarantee that all veterinary hospitals are staffed and supplied with required medicines and equipment, while tourism development includes the activation of tourism facilitation desks and restrooms in major tourist areas. The social welfare sector is to improve the management of government shelters, Darul Amans, and Zamung Kor centers.

The most ambitious part of the roadmap is within local government, where DCs have been tasked with implementing nine distinct targets. These include improving cleanliness and services at public sites such as bus stands, parks, vegetable markets, and slaughterhouses; ensuring the appointment of sanitation staff in all village councils; streamlining waste disposal; and strengthening drainage and sewerage systems.

Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized that DCs will be held directly accountable for meeting these goals. "They are the right hand of the government at the grassroots level," he said, adding that officers or staff members failing in their duties will face action based on reports submitted by the DCs. The government will also provide DCs with greater administrative powers to ensure they can deliver effectively.

Gandapur announced the launch of a rural cleanliness program under which sanitation workers will be hired at the village level. He also urged DCs to hold regular open forums with public representatives and improve social media outreach to engage citizens and gather feedback.

Reaffirming the government's commitment, Gandapur said, "We are investing heavily in service delivery, and the people must see real results. Delays and compromises on quality will not be tolerated. The system must respond to the needs of the people, clearly, quickly, and visibly."