The 10th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial cabinet, held at Civil Secretariate Peshawar was presided over by Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur. The meeting of the provincial cabinet was attended by Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Additional Chief Secretaries and relevant administrative secretaries.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding shared fiscal responsibilities for the financial year 2024-25, intended to be signed between the Federal Government and all Provincial Governments was presented in the cabinet meeting. The cabinet has approved communicating the provincial government’s stance to the Federal Government, stating that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government will agree to the proposed budget surplus of Rs. 178 billion only if the Federal Government fulfills its commitment to resolving the province’s financial issues, as discussed with the Federal Finance Secretary. Additionally, the approval is contingent on the FBR completely achieving the revenue target set in the Budget Estimates 2024-25.
It is noteworthy that the MoU on shared fiscal responsibilities was initially presented in the Provincial Cabinet meeting held on June 27, 2024. After due consideration, the cabinet nominated the Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance to address the financial issues of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the Federal Government. As a result, a delegation from the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa met with the Secretary of the Finance Division on July 2, 2024.
While debating and deciding on the draft Gandhara Corridor Act 2024 proposed by the Federal Government, the provincial cabinet asserted that the Gandhara Corridor is a cultural heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and therefore a provincial matter. Consequently, the cabinet approved the decision to communicate its reservations to the Federal Government and advised against legislating on this provincial subject.
The provincial cabinet has approved the forwarding of two resolutions from the provincial assembly to the Federal Government. Resolution No. 02, presented by MPA Muhammad Yameen, calls for the immediate release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political prisoners. Resolution No. 04, introduced by MPA Ahmad Kundi, addresses the issue of Palestine, urging the Federal Government to advocate for international awareness and action on the conflict in Palestine and to strive for convening an OIC meeting on this matter.
A detailed report from the cabinet’s ministerial committee, which was formed to investigate the engagement of private testing agencies by various departments and offices of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in violation of government orders, was presented to the provincial cabinet. The cabinet approved the committee’s recommendations. The ministerial committee, chaired by the Minister for Local Government, Elections, and Rural Development, was established by the provincial cabinet on March 28, 2024. Its mandate was to assess the capacity of the ETEA, examine cases of tests assigned to private testing agencies, and seek explanations from administrative departments that did not adhere to the cabinet’s decision regarding conducting tests through ETEA. The tenure of the committee was extended to further six months with the responsibility to oversee the function and performance of the ETEA.
The provincial cabinet approved monthly sustenance and food ration allowance to the additional 554 temporary displaced families of North Waziristan Merged District. This approval included release of Rs. 359.3176 million on monthly basis instead of 348.00 million to meet the current requirement, Rs. 100.71 million for clearance of pending liability of 554 families from October 2023 to June 2024.
The provincial cabinet approved the provision of funds 551.900 million to PDMA for provision of tents, NFIs and cooked food for 6455 repatriating families to Rajgal valley in Khyber Merged District. Upon the request of Deputy Commissioner Khyber, the cabinet also approved declaration of emergency under section-16 (A) for the NDM Act 2010 for necessary arrangements.
The provincial cabinet approved draft important amendments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act 2017 also amending its schedule IV-A and schedule-IX. Amendments aimed at strengthening legislative framework of the mineral sector for attracting investment to the province.
The provincial cabinet approved the provision of funds Rs. 62.00 million for the operation and maintenance cost of the Chasma Right Bank Canal. It is merit to mention here that Chasma Right Bank Canal was constructed to irrigate a total of CCA 606,000 Acres (366,000 Acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 240,000 Acres in Punjab. Being an interprovincial canal, the operation and maintenance of the canal is carried out by WAPDA which is governed by an agreement on sharing O&M cost on 50:50 basis and was signed by Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and WAPDA in 2002.
The provincial cabinet approved 2nd revision in PC-I of the Shakai Small Dam in South Waziristan Merged District. The 2nd revised PC-I amounting to Rs. 1689.944 million has been framed including escalation and some major variations/changes in main body of the dam. The storage capacity of the dam is 2040 acre-ft and will irrigate 1400 acre of command area which will uplift the socio-economic condition of the community.
The provincial cabinet after detailed deliberations and keeping in view the matter being sub-judice in the August Court decided to reconstitute Academic Search Committee to fresh initiate the process of appointment of vice chancellors in the public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as per law.
Based on the recommendation of the Food Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the provincial cabinet approved conditional ratification of the decision of the ECC meeting of the Federal Government and allowed the export of sugar from the sugar mills of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa only after the start of upcoming crushing season.
The provincial cabinet has approved a new composition of Charitable Commission for a period of two years. Additional Chief Secretary Home & Tribal Affairs Department will be the chairperson. Commissioners included Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Asghar Ali retired civil servant, Muhammad Asim Imam, retired district & session judge, Muhammad Sher, Social Worker & Development Consultant.
A summary for ‘infrastructure Development and Capacity Building of Home Department’ as a non-ADP scheme at a tentative cost of Rs. 140 million was placed before the provincial cabinet which was approved. The purpose of the scheme is to redress with acute shortage of offices on Home & Tribal Affairs Department and to purchase the necessary IT equipment along with furniture for the department. The provincial cabinet has approved special grant-in-aid amounting to Rs. 120 million to Peshawar Institute of Cardiology – MTI.
During its 10th meeting, the provincial cabinet of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa decided to return Hamala House in Nathagali to the assembly. This property, the assembly’s sole asset in the northern areas for accommodating foreign and national delegations, had been transferred to the Culture and Tourism Department in 2020 based on a previous provincial cabinet decision.
The provincial cabinet relaxing the ban on International Trainings/Exposure Visits under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project allowed officers of the Agriculture Department to pursue international degrees/trainings abroad. Four officers of the agriculture department have been allowed to enroll in foreign degree/training programs. As provided in the PC-I of the project funds envisaged for this will be provided by the World Bank (Washington).
Keeping in view the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan with respect a litigation case of the Higher Education Department, the provincial cabinet allowed the Higher Education Department to appoint Director Higher Education Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as per prevailing law and rules.
The cabinet approved recommendations for the members of board of directors in Water and Sanitation Services D.I.Khan also extending its services to 16 village councils.