Peshawar, In a comprehensive session chaired by Chief Minister Justice (retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker cabinet made pivotal decisions impacting social welfare, education, and financial governance. The meeting, attended by cabinet members along with the chief and administrative secretaries, took place on Tuesday afternoon, focusing on a range of key initiatives.
According to Directorate General Information and PRs – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the cabinet consented to the engagement of a transactional adviser/legal consultant to facilitate private-public partnership agreements. This decision empowers the office of the advocate general of the province to negotiate such agreements. Additionally, the cabinet granted an exemption from Section 22-A of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Act 2012. This exemption allows the provincial culture and tourism department to outsource seventeen properties of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), signaling a significant move towards enhancing tourism and cultural promotion through private sector engagement.
In the realm of social welfare, the cabinet approved a Rs10 million grant-in-aid for the Muskan Institute in Swat, addressing the financial challenges faced by the orphanage due to inflation and rising food prices. This decision came after the Additional Secretary Social Welfare Department’s visit and recommendation, highlighting the government’s responsive action to immediate social needs. Similarly, the Umaid Special Education School in Peshawar was allocated a grant-in-aid of Rs10 million for its annual suspense fund, continuing the provincial government’s support since the fiscal year 2015-16.
The meeting also saw the approval of Dare Shehwar and Imran Tucker as members of the Provincial Parole Committee, underpinning the administration’s commitment to reform and oversight in probation and parole services. Furthermore, the cabinet resolved to increase the honorarium for assistant qazis in Malakand division, doubling the daily compensation in recognition of their service since their appointment in May 2019.
Addressing the needs of personnel involved in body search duties during Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission tests and examinations, the cabinet approved a compensation of Rs600. Moreover, amendments to Rule 23 of the Tehsil Financial Transfer Rules, 2023, were sanctioned to bolster legal protection for budgeting and auditing processes.
In its concluding resolutions, the cabinet endorsed the appointment of distinguished individuals to the board of directors for the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) Mardan and named Muhammad Ayub as the Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission and Grid System Company (KPT and GSE), marking a step forward in enhancing public utility management and governance.