Peshawar - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan on Sunday said that the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had approved two important mega projects including D.I. Khan Motorway and Dir Expressway.
Presiding over the meeting of KP Cabinet, he termed it a milestone in the socio-economic development of the province and added that once completed, the mega projects would not only provide better transportation facilities to the people but would also help in sustainable and rapid development of the province in the context of CPEC.
He was thankful to Prime Minister Imran Khan and the federal government for approval of important highways for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Mahmood Khan disclosed that both projects were in the agenda of Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting to be held on 16th July for inclusion in the CPEC portfolio, and hoped that the projects would be included in CPEC framework.
The Chief Minister directed the quarters concerned to remove hurdles in the private land acquisition for public welfare-oriented projects and ease the formalities and procedures and report to this effect should be presented to the cabinet within a month. He directed the quarters concerned to devise a mechanism for bringing public properties, owned by various government departments, under one umbrella by handing it over to the pool of provincial government so that it could be utilised for public welfare without going into unnecessary formalities of transfer of land from one department to another.
KP CM Mahmood Khan terms both projects milestone in socio-economic development of province
He also directed the Industry Department to complete environmental study for the establishment of Buner Marble City within one month period. The chair directed the Health Department to take necessary steps for setting up of four new major hospitals in the province. Besides, members of the cabinet, Chief Secretary and Administrative Secretaries attended the meeting.
Briefing the media about the decisions of the cabinet, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education Kamran Bangash said that an important legislation regarding Child Protection Act had been tabled in the cabinet. In order to further improve this important legislation, the cabinet constituted a committee comprising Minister for Social Welfare Hisham Inamullah Khan, Law Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan, Minister Labour Shaukat Yousafzai and Advocate General to further deliberate upon the Act in order to make it more effective.
The cabinet disapproved supplementary grant for University of Agriculture, Peshawar and directed the quarters concerned to present a comprehensive case for all universities to settle their financial issues once for all and constituted a committee consisting of Minister for Finance and Special Assistant on Higher Education to look after the financial matters of the universities.
The cabinet also approved amendments in Rules of Business 1985 and draft notification whereby Administrative Departments and attached formations will be allowed to hire the services of legal advisors for pursuing government cases in the court of law effectively.
Regarding local government elections, Kamran Bangash reiterated government’s pledge to hold LB elections in one go adding that provincial government had made all preparations as well as allocated necessary funds for the purpose.
The cabinet constituted a committee comprising secretaries of law, education, higher education and advocate general to deliberate upon merger of Frontier Education Foundation (FEF) Colleges/employees into Higher Education.
The cabinet nominated a panel of three members for National Council for Tibb including Hakeem Bakht Rawan, Hakeem Muhammad Younis Fahim and Hakeem Ataullah. The Federal government will select one nominee for the Council to represent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The cabinet approved package for strengthening and upgradation of BHUs, RHCs and Category A, B, C & D hospitals. The cabinet also approved to hire the services of respiratory therapists in order to bring down the death ratio in the context of COVID-19.
The cabinet also renamed Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital Swat as Swat Kidney Hospital. The rules did not allow renaming any public institution after the name of public office holder who is alive.
The cabinet also approved Criminal Amendment Bill 2020 and Supplementary Grant for the establishment of police lines in distract Shangla. The cabinet approved framework for Sustainable Development Goals as Pakistan is signatory to the SDGs.
The cabinet by further amending Rules of Business 1985 approved establishment of Directorate of Land Record. The cabinet also approved Operational and Financial Rules of Board of Investment and Trade. The cabinet also approved re-constitution of Board of Directors of Board of Investment and Trade.