K-P plans major police budget increase

Cabinet approves digital reforms, Levies merger, welfare measures

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan has said plans are underway to further increase the police budget by 12 per cent of the total provincial budget next fiscal year.

He said that K-P has allocated Rs170 billion for police in the current financial year, making up 8.7 per cent of the provincial budget. Police funding has increased by 37 per cent over the last two years, with an additional Rs46 billion injected. The government is spending over Rs17 billion on security development and Rs18 billion on police salaries.

He added that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi played a strong leadership role in uniting all political parties against the federal government's decisions to close CNG stations and restrict wheat supplies to K-P.

Addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat after Cabinet meeting, he stated that the province produces 508 MMCFD of gas while its requirement is only 180 MMCFD.

The minister pointed out that severe load-shedding has badly affected provincial industries, while the halt in wheat supply from Punjab has created serious difficulties for local flour mills.

On the security front, Shafi Jan said the provincial government is prioritising peace and has spent heavily on the sector.

The province maintains one police officer for every 291 citizens and has created 3,550 new posts, including in merged districts.

In the 53rd provincial cabinet meeting, several key decisions were approved to improve governance and public services. These include merging the Levies Force with police in Malakand district, approving the Digital Transformation Policy and Roadmap 2030 to modernise government services, strengthen cyber security, and promote a digital economy. The cabinet also reconstituted the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Seed Council to ensure quality seeds for farmers and directed steps for agricultural self-sufficiency.

Other decisions include construction of staff accommodation and parking at Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, transparent recruitments in medical institutions, release of pending salaries for health workers, and financial aid for nine patients. The cabinet also approved grants for youth leadership programmes, the National T20 Cup, containerised offices in Khyber and Kurram districts, and extension of service for Assistants to Qazis in Malakand. Recommendations for auctioning Placer Gold blocks were also endorsed.

These measures, Shafi Jan said, reflect the provincial government's commitment to better service delivery, institutional reforms, economic growth, and sustained peace in the province.