K-P PA acts in unison on relief, power, pay
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly on Monday unanimously approved three resolutions addressing long-standing grievances of employees involved in post-2005 earthquake reconstruction, the province's renewable energy potential amid national energy crises, and financial hardships faced by young lecturers and staff in newly established colleges.
The first resolution, moved by government MPA Mushtaq Ghani, demanded the reinstatement of 106 employees of the Provincial Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (PERRA) who were sacked without notice despite 19-20 years of service. PERRA and District Reconstruction Units were established after the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake to implement projects funded by the federal Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA). Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment and a 2021 federal decision to merge ERRA into NDMA, provincial entities like PERRA were to be integrated into K-P institutions under Article 144.
A second resolution, tabled by Chitral MPA Fatehul Mulk, highlighted Pakistan's energy crisis exacerbated by Middle East tensions and potential Strait of Hormuz disruptions. It stressed that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa possesses significant untapped potential in hydropower, solar, and wind energy.
The third resolution, presented by MPA Daud Shah, expressed concern over delays in salary payments and PC-1 approvals for lecturers and other staff appointed under the "Project Higher Education Functionaries in Newly Established Colleges."
In a separate development, the Assembly took up two significant bills aimed at providing legal protection to minority communities. Provincial Minister for Local Government Mian Khan Afridi presented the Kalash Marriage Bill 2026, the first dedicated legislation of its kind for the indigenous Kalash community, and the Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The Kalash bill stipulates that marriages will occur only with the consent of both parties, sets the minimum age at 18, requires mental fitness, and prohibits certain relationships including cousin marriages.
The Hindu Marriage Amendment Bill proposes that registrars be appointed by district governments, particularly in Hindu-populated union councils.
Minority MPA Suresh Kumar raised reservations, describing the issues as religiously sensitive. As the sole Hindu member in the 145-member House, he criticised the lack of prior consultation and questioned referring amendments only to NGOs without clear linkage to the existing Hindu Marriage Act. He demanded a change in the bill's title and inclusion of Hindu scholars in the review process.
Law Minister Aftab Alam clarified that the bills fall under federal law, with provinces empowered to propose amendments under Article 144 of the Constitution. Speaker and other members assured that standing committees would conduct thorough consultations, including with religious scholars and stakeholders, before reporting back within one month. The bills were referred to the relevant standing committees.