Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved use of government helicopters by the provincial ministers, advisers, special advisers and top officials of the provincial government for public purposes.



The cabinet in its meeting held Thursday barred all private schools from collecting fees for the holidays and also approved 10-year development plan for the seven merged districts.



“Provincial cabinet has approved 10-year development plan for the seven merged districts and issued directives to all departments to share their development schemes with provincial government within a month,” K-P Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai told the media in a briefing after the cabinet meeting.



“We have amended the rules and regulations in the usage of provincially owned helicopters, while high official and advisers and special aides to the government could also avail the opportunity once CM gives approval in the public related issues,” he said.



On the circular rail feasibility report in the four districts of the province, the provincial information minister stated that they have inked an agreements with the Chinese government who could build circular train in Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan and Swabi districts.



The provincial cabinet has also approved the appointments of Assistant Qazis, for the district of Buner 16, for district of Swat 15, Shangla, Malakand-12 each, while Chitral and Dir lower and upper 15 each, while the cabinet also resumed the amendment of Nizam e Adal Regulation.



The posts of assistant qazis previously abolished were now restored, information minister stated



Labour court judges



The cabinet also approved appointments of the judges of labour courts of Peshawar and Abbottabad. Justice Abdul Rashid and Justice Lal Jan have been appointed as judges of labour courts of Peshawar and Abbottabad respectively.



The meeting approved Mines Safety Rules to ensure safety of mine workers. According to rules in case of any accident, Mine Inspector will be responsible for the loss. Similarly all mine workers will be registered with Employees Old Age Benefit Institute (EOBI). The compensation for loss of life of miners in K-P was Rs300,000 which has been raised to Rs500,000, added Yousufzai.



The provincial cabinet also approved the amendments in the National Disaster Management Act, while the relief department could declare calamities in specific areas of the province, while also banned construction within 500 metres of nullahs to avoid urban flooding, Yousufzai added.



The cabinet approved regularisation of services of 250 government employees out of whom 197 are from Health department. The Information Minister said that Chief Minister expressing concern over weight of school bags of children directed the education department to reduce the weight for the children. He further directed the education department that no private school would collect summer vacation fee from parents.



The CM also expressed reservation over removal of Khatma-e-Nabut chapter from book of Class-IV



The cabinet also approve the cut on tobacco development tax from 50% while made compulsory that 10% tax would go to Swabi University.



It also gave nod to five-point agenda for promotion of the college professors, lectures, while also approved permanent statures to the 197 employees of the maternal newborn child project of the KP government, he said.



The chief minister came harsh on the opponent that the helicopter case in previous era was based on unfounded fact, while on government advisers, secretaries, aides could use the helicopters on the approval of the chief minister.



Ex-FATA polls could be delayed



Over the new law which could enhance the seats number of the provincial assembly, information minister said that seats of the merged districts of the seven merged district would be enhance from 16 to 24.



Change in constituencies could cause delay in elections, he said.



“With the demands of the masses of the merged districts, we have enhanced the seats in the provincial assembly, but within new amendments the government bounded to hold election in the seven districts within a year,” he said.



With new amendments in the usage of helicopter legislation the CM could hire the services of private helicopter, while maintenance works in the two K-P owned helicopters are underway, Yosuafzai stated.



Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2019.