F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The 11th Meeting of the Provincial Cabinet was held at Civil Secretariate Peshawar on Tuesday presided by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur. The meeting was attended by Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Additional Chief Secretaries and Administrative Secretaries.
Chairing the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, directed cabinet members to devise a plan for weekly visits to districts to inspect public service delivery and monitor the progress of developmental projects. He emphasized that special attention should be given to activities in the Merged Districts. Additionally, he instructed the departments particularly education and health to prioritize strengthening human resource deployment in Merged Districts, ensuring that the placement of personnel strictly adheres to a domicile-centric policy.
The cabinet has approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Livestock and Poultry Production Act 2024 thus allowing its placement before the provincial assembly. With the promulgation of the act the Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Department will be able to register and regulate the livestock and poultry production activities in the province.
The cabinet has approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Animal Welfare Act, 2024 for placement before the provincial assembly. This legislation aimed at prevention of infliction of unnecessary pain to animals and to set standards regarding humane handling, treatment and transportation of animals in the province.
The provincial cabinet has approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Livestock Breeding Services Act, 2024 allowing its placement before the provincial assembly. This legislation is aimed at regulation of livestock breeding services, improve the genetic potential of breeds and protect indigenous breeds of livestock and to provide for improvement, control, marketing and quality assurance of livestock in the province.
As a stance of the province the provincial cabinet has approved a set of forward-looking recommendations to be included in the position paper for the upcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) award. Among these recommendations is the demand for the establishment of a 10-year grant, termed the ‘Pakistan Building Grant,’ sourced from the Federal Divisible Pool. This grant aims to address significant financial needs and development deficits that have accumulated since the 7th NFC award. Additionally, the cabinet has called for an interim adjustment to bring the 7th NFC Award into compliance with the Constitution of Pakistan, recommending that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share in the new award be recalculated to include the population and area of the newly merged areas within the province.
The provincial cabinet has approved the forwarding of Resolution No. 18, adopted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly, to the Federal Government. The resolution, introduced by MPA Muhammad Abdul Salam, denounces the ordinance related to appointing retired judges to the election tribunal as a “black law” and demands that the Federal Government withdraw the ordinance. The resolution also states that the appointment of retired judges to the election tribunal is tantamount to undermining justice and democracy, and it has brought disrepute to the country on the international stage.
The provincial cabinet has approved a grant-in-aid of Rs 326.40 million for the Drug Free Peshawar Programme Phase-III and Rs 23.10 million for the Beggars Free Peshawar Programme, aiming to eliminate drug addiction and beggary from the streets of Peshawar. The department plans to rehabilitate 2,000 drug addicts in Phase-III of the Drug Free Peshawar Programme. During the deliberations, the Chief Minister directed the social welfare department to offer free services to families across the province who wish to rehabilitate a drug-addicted family member but cannot afford the treatment.
The provincial cabinet has accorded approval for the cost enhancement from rupees 87.700 million to rupees 152.00 million for the ADP scheme of repair and rehabilitation of Mahabat Khan Mosque Peshawar. The project is aimed at preserving and restoration of the historical Masjid to its original grandeur. Besides, conservation of the structure, restoration of fountain pond, water supply, CCTV System, sound system, illumination work, renovation of ablution area and provision of motorized sun shed are part of the project.
As per the policy of devolving the financial and administrative powers to divisional headquarters for speedy development the cabinet has approved the establishment of a Regional Development Committee, to be led by the respective divisional commissioner. This decision also involves amending the Planning & Development Guidelines (2015) by the P&D Department, as well as revising the Powers of Sanctioning Development Projects/Programmes under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Delegation of Financial Powers Rules, 2018. The P&D Department will allocate the required technical human resources from its existing officer pool without creating new vacancies. The cabinet has approved the creation of 35 number of posts of different nomenclatures in Administration Department for the newly declared Khyber Pakhtunkhwa house in D.I.Khan. This was aimed at strengthening of facilities for the smooth devolution of the financial and administrative powers to divisional level.
The provincial cabinet has approved the release of 1.377 billion rupees to the Food Department to settle the remaining wheat procurement liabilities for growers, suppliers, and their authorized representatives at 22 wheat procurement centers. This brings the total financial obligations for the procurement of 208,993.873 MT of wheat to 20.377 billion rupees. The Finance Department had already disbursed 19 billion rupees to the Food Department, as per the decisions made in previous cabinet meetings.
In response to a request by the Union Council Sarai Naimat Khan, District Haripur, and a proposal by the Health Department, the provincial cabinet has approved renaming Category D Hospital Sarai Naimat Khan to Constable Azmat Rashid Shaheed Hospital. This change is made in recognition of Constable Azmat Rashid’s Shahadat in the line of duty.
The provincial cabinet has approved non-ADP scheme titled ‘Payment of Salaries for 395 Vaccinators (BPS-12)’ for period from 1st July 2022 to 30th June 2024 at a cost of rupees 447.780 million. The vaccinators have already rendered services but their salaries have not been paid. The funds will be arranged through re-appropriation within Health sector ADP. The cabinet has allowed the transfer of provincial government land measuring 2 kanal and 11 marla for construction of office building for District Education Officer (F) Hangu.
