Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet convened for its 27th meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur. The session was attended by cabinet members, the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Senior Member of the Board of Revenue, Administrative Secretaries, and the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
At the outset, following the recitation from the Holy Quran, the Chief Minister commended the cabinet and bureaucratic team for their commendable performance over the past year. Reflecting on the financial challenges faced at the beginning of his tenure, he recalled that the province initially had funds sufficient for only 15 days’ worth of employee salaries. However, under the current administration, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now holds a record budget surplus of Rs150 billion.
Without introducing new taxes, the province’s revenue has increased by 50%. The government has ensured 100% release of funds for Annual Development Program (ADP) projects, including the resumption of previously halted schemes. Additionally, the Health Card scheme, which was earlier discontinued, has been reinstated and expanded, leading to substantial benefits for the public.
As a result of improved governance, the Health Card scheme now saves Rs900 million per month, despite the expansion of its services. Moreover, liabilities totaling Rs87 billion have been cleared, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become the first province to establish a Debt Retirement Fund, allocating Rs30 billion towards it.
Major Developments and Approvals
- Energy & Infrastructure: The province has initiated its first-ever Provincial Transmission Line at a cost of Rs18 billion to provide affordable electricity to industrial units. The Chief Minister emphasized that transfers and postings within public service will be based strictly on merit, without any political interference.
- Judicial Welfare & Infrastructure:
- A draft bill was approved to create the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Officers Welfare Fund, aimed at supporting judicial officers in cases of health emergencies, accidents, natural disasters, and post-retirement needs.
- A special grant of Rs667.5 million was sanctioned for acquiring 150 kanals of land for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy at Regi Model Town, Peshawar.
- The cabinet allocated Rs9.93 million as an additional grant for the Peshawar High Court to procure an official vehicle for judges, with a temporary relaxation of the vehicle purchase ban.
- Legal & Administrative Reforms:
- The cabinet approved amendments to Sections 2 and 3 (sub-sections 1 to 4) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Appointment, Deputation, Posting/Transfer of Teachers, Instructors & Doctors) Regulatory Act, 2011. This modification replaces the term “union council” with “Educational Cluster” throughout the Act.
- Approval was given for the creation of posts within the Ombudsman Secretariat under the Law, Parliamentary Affairs, and Human Rights Department.
- The cabinet directed the expedited construction of a parking facility near the Peshawar High Court and District Courts.
- Urban & Municipal Development:
- Approval was granted for the formation of the Water & Sanitation Services Company in Haripur.
- Rahman Afridi was appointed as the CEO (BPS-20) of the Faculty of Paramedics & Allied Health Sciences, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Education & Youth Development:
- A non-ADP project worth Rs310.696 million was approved for the construction of an auditorium at Abbottabad Public School.
- A Rs3.3 million allocation was made for IMSciences Peshawar to support four students behind the startup “Eagle Tasker,” the only Pakistani entry in the Hult Prize global finale in the US.
- The cabinet approved Rs492.755 million for the resumption of the Model Institute Zamungkor Boys Campus in Peshawar, which was initially established in 2016 under the Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010 to support vulnerable children.
- Rs10 million was allocated as an annual sustenance fund for Umeed Special Education School for the 2024-25 fiscal year, supporting 150 students with disabilities.
- An Rs3.1 million grant was approved for an educational institution under the Aisha Foundation.
- Sports & Welfare:
- The cabinet sanctioned Rs68.51 million for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Contingent to participate in the 35th National Games in Karachi.
- The government retrospectively approved the selection of a cellular company as the centralized bank services provider for the Ramazan Package, benefiting 1,016,394 individuals across the province.
Commitment to Progress & Transparency
The cabinet’s decisions reflect a strong commitment to economic stability, governance reforms, and public welfare. With a focus on merit-based administration, financial transparency, and infrastructure development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to take significant steps toward sustainable growth and improved public services.
