KP cabinet decisions: Levis, Khasadar forces integrated into police

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Thursday approved the integration Levis and Khasadar forces into regular police, the establishment of the Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority and gave node to several other steps.

Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai along with spokesperson for the KP Government Ajmal Wazir addressed a press conference to inform the media about the cabinet meeting decisions, chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. The minister rejected the reports of differences in the KP government and said there was no grouping in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. “Chief Minister Mahmood Khan is doing well. He successfully established courts in erstwhile Fata, deployed police and ensured timely elections there,” said Shaukat Yousafzai.

The minister said the cabinet approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Special Police Officer (Regularization of Police) Bill 2019. Shaukat Yousafazai said the WSSC utility charges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been increased by 50 million and grant in aid of 500 million has been increased to 1 billion. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Act 2013 approved Appellate Tribunal for Sales Tax on Services. Syed Anis Bukhari will be a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Appellate Tribunal. His services will be based on deputation for three years. The minister said according to the decision of the Peshawar High Court, the cabinet approved to give grade 17 officers of Agriculture Department a 33 percent selection grade. The cabinet okayed the transfer of the trial of prisoner Mohammed Ikram, son of Syed Karim, from Anti-Terrorism Court Mardan to ATC Peshawar. Establishment of Juvenile Courts under the Juvenile Act 2018 was presented in the provincial cabinet. The main purpose of the law is to make the judicial system more efficient. The provincial cabinet approved it. The cabinet approved necessary amendments in light of the agreement with Pakistan Air Force for better repair and operation of two helicopters. It included new posts, salaries and other incentives. The release of Rs 472 million to pay the pension of retired judges during the fiscal year 2019-20 was approved. The cabinet postponed the proposed amendments to the Civil Procedure Court for 90 days. About the recent child murder case in Nowshera, the minister said legislation was needed to prevent cases of child abuse. Strict penalties can eliminate such set of mind, he added. The committee formed for the new lease agreement for the Swat Serena Hotel, headed by the chief secretary, submitted recommendations. Mahmood Khan constituted a committee headed by senior minister Atif Khan included the Minister for Law, Finance, Advocate General and Managing Director KPPRA. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority 2018-19 Annual Report was submitted to the provincial cabinet. The cabinet agreed to the proposal that under Section -103 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Act 2013, the authority should submit an annual report to the government during the last three months of each financial year.

The cabinet approved ex-post facto of Rs 3 million for a monthly payment of Rs 5 lakh for the Consultant Office established for the tribal districts. The minister said the cabinet okayed the regularization of the services of the employees of the Disaster Management Authority of the tribal districts. After the approval of the cabinet, these employees will be considered employees of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority. The provincial cabinet approved to increase the existing grant of Peshawar Press Club from Rs 3 million to Rs 6 million. It okayed the amendments to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Control of Narcotics Substance Act 2019. Under this, strict measures and penalties have been proposed for narcotics control, especially “ice” intoxication. The cabinet approved to provide 22 vehicles for senior civil judges, the appointment of private members in KPPRA and Pakhtunkhwa Water Bill 2020 was also approved.