Master of whisperers: K-P govt to protect whistleblowers

Draft bill approved by the provincial cabinet, says information minister

PESHAWAR:

In a bid to end corruption from government departments and the province itself, the  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa administration has decided to give protection to whistleblowers.

The K-P cabinet approved the draft of the ‘Whistleblowers Protection and Vigilance Act 2015’ under which a commission would be established to protect the life and property of anyone providing information about corruption, illegal activity or any step that endangers the public.



Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani told the media that the vigilance commission would be formed and have a chairman as well as three other members.

Rescue efforts under way

Ghani further said that the cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, was apprised of rescue and rehabilitation operations under way after the rainstorm which devastated parts of K-P. He said the relevant departments have been ordered to immediately hand over compensation to the affected people. The cabinet also expressed grief over human losses caused by the rain.

Boosting tourism

To promote tourism in the province, the cabinet approved the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Policy 2015, Ghani said. He said the province was blessed with natural beauty which attracts tourists.

Ghani told the media that 8.8 million people from across the country visited K-P in the past one year which is 19% of Pakistan’s total tourism volume. Similarly, 5.6% of total foreign tourists visited the province and helped the sector make Rs12 billion in revenue.

“After the 18th Amendment, the K-P government has made a tourism policy which aims to provide better facilities to tourists.”

These include constructing roads and railway tracks, hotels, motels and hostels apart from picnic spots. Also crucial is security for visitors and issuing NOCs for them without delay.

The government will serve as facilitator in providing a good environment to lure investors. A tourism promotion cell will be established. “We hope that in the next few years, investment in the field will reach Rs50 billion,” the information minister said.

The cabinet also approved the draft for amending the Right to Information Act 2013, along with increasing financial allocation to the parent-teachers’ council (PTC). Ghani said the establishment of the council was a good decision by the government and school buildings could be improved with its help.

“Earlier, the PTC was able to spend Rs1 million in a year, but expenses have grown so its funding has been increased to Rs3 million,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2015.