Pak-India conflict KP unveils package for families of martyrs, injured

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday announced a special relief package for those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who embraced martyrdom or were injured in the recent Pak-India armed conflict.

According to the package, the families of the martyrs will receive Rs 5 million each, while the injured will receive Rs 1 million each.

Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, said the announcement was made by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur while addressing the 32nd meeting of the provincial cabinet.

The cabinet members, chief secretary, secretaries, the Senior Member Board of Revenue, administrative secretaries and others attended the meeting.

The chief minister paid rich tribute to the armed forces for giving a strong and effective response to the Indian aggression.

“Armed forces and the entire nation deserve congratulations for this remarkable victory against India,” he said

“We salute those who were martyred as a result of Indian aggression and express heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs,” he added.

He directed the relevant members of the provincial assembly to coordinate with local administration officials to ensure the prompt delivery of the relief package by visiting the homes of the affected individuals.

Gandapur welcomed the action taken by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the alleged financial irregularities reported in Kohistan and noted that it was encouraging that some recoveries had already been made in this case.

He added that the provincial government would fully support NAB in this matter and provide any documents required for the investigation on a priority basis.

The chief minister emphasized that strict action must be taken against all individuals and institutions involved in this case.

He reiterated that the provincial government, in line with the vision of the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, was adhering to a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.

Gandapur stated that the provincial government itself would take stricter action against those involved in this corruption case than any other institution.

He directed the relevant cabinet members to hold press conferences to present the facts of the case before the public.

The meeting also decided to establish a cabinet committee to conduct a government-level investigation into the case.

The chief minister himself will head the committee and include relevant cabinet members and members of the provincial assembly.

He appreciated the efforts of the law-enforcing agencies, civil administration and the members of the Jirga (mediators) for the restoration of peace in Kurram district.

The cabinet was informed that all 979 bunkers had been destroyed and heavy weapons recovered, while a total out of 105 villages de-weaponization.

The cabinet approved the life insurance scheme for all people of the province without any discrimination at an annual cost of approximately Rs 4.5 billion.

The coverage will apply exclusively to the death of the head of a family occurring during treatment under the Sehat Card Program at hospitals listed under the program. The cabinet approved a one-year extension in the Sehat Card Program.

The cabinet approved the implementation of all the announcements made by the chief minister during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected office-bearers of the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on January 29.

These measures include the issuance of a one-time special grant of Rs.50 million for the PPC in the current financial year.

It included increasing the seed money for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund from Rs128 million to Rs 200 million to support the welfare of journalists; issuance of original allotment letters in place of provisional ones for journalists who have acquired plots in the New Peshawar Valley City; provision of monthly scholarships of Rs10,000 for one year to the children of 100 journalists from the PPC; and distribution of free solar systems to deserving families of PPC journalists through draw.

The cabinet approved the revision of the exemption slab in the Finance Act, 2019, to align it with the updated minimum wage. Thus, the unskilled industrial workers earning up to Rs36, 000/- will be exempted from Professional Tax from private salaried Professionals.

To resolve the lingering litigations once and for all and given several judgments of the superior courts, the cabinet confirmed the retirement of all the khasadars/levy personnel during and after the interregnum period, i.e., from 04.06.2018 to 12.03.2019, as under the rules.

The cabinet decided to support the amendment to Article 27(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, in a way to maintain the reservation of quota on federal government service for different parts of the country for another ten years.

It approved a one-time Grant-in-Aid of Rs 50.91 million for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation. This aid is aimed at reimbursement of deficit amounts to KPEF under the CPEC/China scholarship. Under this scholarship, 460 students were facilitated in pursuing studies at various Chinese Universities.

The cabinet approved the enhancement of seed money for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Scholarship Endowment Fund with the provision of an additional grant of Rs. 1240 million.