PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Friday approved the establishment of an inquiry commission to investigate the Radio Pakistan Peshawar attack.
The Radio Pakistan Peshawar building was attacked on May 9 and 10, 2023, when protesters stormed the premises, broke down the main gate, and ransacked various sections including the newsroom and studios.
The protesters set fire to official records, equipment (cameras, microphones, computers), and vehicles parked on the premises. Transmission from the station was suspended due to the extensive damage.
The commission will collect all available evidence, including CCTV footage, and submit its findings to the cabinet.
This and several other decisions were taken as Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired the first cabinet meeting after assuming office.
It was the 40th cabinet meeting, which approved more than 50 key decisions during a six-hour sitting.
The meeting was attended by cabinet members, the chief secretary, additional chief secretaries, the senior member Board of Revenue, administrative secretaries, and the Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Later, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information and Public Relations, Shafi Ullah Jan, briefed the media on the cabinet decisions.
He said the cabinet had taken steps relating to governance reforms, development and welfare schemes, financial matters, and legislative changes.
Opening the meeting, the chief minister thanked all political parties for participating in the ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peace Jirga’ held at the Provincial Assembly, stating that while political differences may continue, “peace remains our shared objective.”
He directed authorities to ensure progress on all resolutions passed by the provincial assembly and termed the abolition of “Actions in Aid of Civil Power” an essential step toward protecting fundamental human rights.
The chief minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to establishing an interest-free Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, introducing Islamic investment models, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, banning personal publicity through government funds, and ensuring transparency and merit-based decision-making.
Referring to the provincial assembly’s unanimous resolution on the mistreatment of PTI founder chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in jail, he lamented that “the elected chief minister of 45 million people is not being allowed to meet his party’s founding chairman.”
He said a comprehensive review of all provincial laws would be undertaken to identify gaps and recommend necessary amendments in the public interest.
Among the notable approvals was the one concerning the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Witness Protection Rules 2025, aimed at ensuring the security of witnesses involved in sensitive investigations, prosecutions, and court proceedings under the Witness Protection Act 2021.
In a major education sector decision, the cabinet approved an allocation of Rs 6.185 billion to address missing facilities in schools. Of this amount, Rs 1.20 billion will be released immediately.
A Relief Support Fund of Rs 4 billion was also approved for displaced families of North Waziristan affected during Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
It was stated that the federal government, responsible for this funding, had not provided support for the past three years.
The special assistant said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would provide every possible support to its people, adding that funding for road improvements in South Waziristan and Swat had also been approved.
The cabinet gave the nod to amendments to the Arms Rules 2014 and sanctioned recruitment for the families of martyred officials under the Shuhada Policy.
In the energy sector, the cabinet approved the release of Rs 500 million for the KP Transmission and Grid System Company.
It approved land acquisition for the Madyan Hydropower Project, a key component of the government’s plan to expand provincial power generation and transmission infrastructure.
The cabinet permitted the installation of an HVAC system at the Peshawar Museum and approved a scheme to improve sewage infrastructure in tourist areas.
It approved the Child Labour Action Plan 2025–29, under which about 745,000 child labourers will be enrolled in schools over the next five years.
In sports, a special grant of Rs 27.7 million was sanctioned for the winners of the Shandur Polo Festival, while boxer Khan Saeed Afridi was granted Rs 2 million in financial support.
Financial assistance was also approved for three indigent patients, including one requiring a transplant.