Meeting expectations?: Inaugural cabinet meeting emphasises ‘good governance’

Reforms announced in failing sectors such as police and health.

PESHAWAR:

During its first formal cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government approved several measures to promote good governance and meet people’s expectations on ‘change’ in the province.

Briefing journalists after the high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, provincial spokesperson and Minister for Health Shaukat Yousufzai said the cabinet had approved the establishment of a Provincial Accountability Commission in order to promote better governance.

The PTI leader shed light on a variety of issues and explained just how the provincial government was aiming to tackle the problems facing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“Working groups comprising experts of various fields have been formed in several departments,” explained the provincial spokesperson, adding they would submit reports regarding ‘better governance measures’ by July 25 after which the government would implement them.

Police and prisons

Yousafzai informed police officials would now work in two shifts and added every police station would have two SHOs. He also stated a muharrar would not perform his duties for more than a year at any police station. “During police training, the focus will be on educating officers on the subject of fighting terrorism,” said the spokesperson, adding shoulder promotions (temporarily promoting a junior officer) were now banned within the police.

“The traffic police will not conduct security checks at random except when there is a breach of law,” asserted the PTI leader.

According to the minister, the cabinet also decided to bring improvements in conditions of jails which would include better food for inmates. Yousafzai did not spell out any further details regarding jail reforms, but maintained “reforms were needed as violence did occur in prisons.”

A focus on healthcare

Hospitals at district levels will be given greater autonomy in terms of managing the purchase of medicines according to their needs, said Yousafzai adding from July 15 the government will start inducting doctors on contract basis. “The provincial public service commission will carry on its own induction schedule as before.”

The meeting also reportedly decided two samples of medicines would be taken from every pharmacy in the province which would be certified by a drug inspector and the deputy commissioner before being approved for standard usage.

Of public interest

Yousafzai said a uniform education system would be implemented from March 1, 2014 in K-P and added the Right to Information Act had also been approved during the meeting.

Yousufzai informed that the provincial cabinet had approved outsourcing contracts to private companies for better cleaning services. “Currently, around Rs120 million per year is spent on cleaning the provincial capital, but the results are not satisfactory,” he added.

Touching on one of the major issues facing the province, Yousafzai said a special task force had been set up to address the energy crisis. “A policy report in this regard will be submitted and implemented soon.”

The provincial spokesperson further said development work in the province would start from next month.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2013.