PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapue here on Saturday chaired the 10th meeting of provincial cabinet and discussed matters including Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding shared fiscal responsibilities for financial year 2024-25 that was intended to be signed between the federal and provincial governments.
The meeting was attended by Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Additional Chief Secretaries and concerned administrative secretaries.
The MoU regarding shared fiscal responsibilities for financial year 2024-25 was presented in the cabinet meeting. The cabinet has approved communicating the provincial government’s stance to the federal government stating that KP would agree to proposed budget surplus of Rs. 178 billion only if commitment to resolving the province’s financial issues as discussed with the Federal Finance Secretary be fulfilled. Additionally, the approval is contingent on FBR completely achieving the revenue target set in Budget Estimates 2024-25.
While debating draft Gandhara Corridor Act 2024 proposed by federal government, the provincial cabinet asserted that Gandhara Corridor was a cultural heritage and 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.
A detailed report from the cabinet’s ministerial committee, that was tasked to investigate engagement of private testing agencies by various departments and offices of KP in violation of government orders, was presented to the provincial cabinet. The cabinet approved the committee’s recommendations.
The ministerial committee was established by provincial cabinet to assess capacity of 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 cabinet also approved 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 also approved draft important amendments in KP Mines and Minerals Act 2017, amending its schedule IV-A and schedule-IX, provision of funds Rs. 62.00 million for the operation and maintenance cost of the Chashma Right Bank Canal and 2nd revision in PC-I of the Shakai Small Dam in South Waziristan Merged District.
The provincial cabinet after detailed deliberations decided to reconstitute Academic Search Committee to initiate the process of appointment of vice chancellors in public sector universities of KP 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 federal government and allowed the export of sugar from the sugar mills of KP only after the start of the upcoming crushing season.
The provincial cabinet approved a new composition of Charitable Commission for a period of two years with Additional Chief Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Department as the chairperson.
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 a special grant-in-aid amounting to Rs. 120 million to Peshawar Institute of Cardiology.
The cabinet also decided to return Hamala House in Nathagali to the assembly and approved relaxing the ban on International Training/Exposure Visits under KP Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project allowing officers of Agriculture Department to pursue international degrees/training abroad. Four officers of agriculture department have been allowed to enroll in foreign degree/training programs.
Keeping in view the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan with respect to a litigation case of Higher Education Department, the provincial cabinet allowed 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 and extended its services to 16 village councils.