KP Cabinet approves first-ever provincial food security policy

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet has approved the first-ever food security policy and plan for a period of 10 years with a huge financial allocation of Rs236 billion.

KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan will review the implementation status of the project on a monthly basis.

The approval was accorded during a cabinet meeting held with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair. The meeting was also attended by the cabinet members, chief secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, SMBR, additional chief secretary and administrative secretaries.

Briefing the media regarding the decisions of the cabinet, Provincial Minister Kamran Bangash accompanied by newly-inducted Minister Arshad Ayub said that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was the first province to approve the much-needed food security policy to address shortage of wheat, sugar and other food items.

He declared it a landmark achievement, which will not only suffice the province in food items but would also generate employment opportunities in the province.

About the salient features of the food policy, Bangash said that the southern part of the province has great potential for achieving the goal of food security where irrigation channels, particularly CRBC scheme and other watercourses will be channelised, public–private partnership will be encouraged, women participation will be ensured to alleviate poverty and generate employment opportunities.

The project is expected to generate billions in revenue on an annual basis. The Kissan Card worth Rs55 billion is part of this policy, he said.

The cabinet, in prior consultation with the Public Service Commission KP, also declared the recent screening test conducted by it for induction into the Provincial Management Service (PMS) as null and void and allowed all the candidates to directly appear in the written examination.

This decision will ensure maximum competition, as mere screening test is not sufficient for syllabus-related examination aimed at evaluating the ability of the candidates.

In the light of the decision of the apex court, the cabinet also approved regularisation of 519 employees of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation and their subsequent merger into the Directorate of Higher Education.

The cabinet, keeping in view the Covid emergency situation, also approved monthly fee concession for the students to provide relief to the parents under the Epidemic Control and Emergency Act 2020.

The schools charging more than Rs6,000 monthly fee will provide 20 per cent concession, while the school charging less than Rs6,000 monthly fees will provide 10 per cent concession in the fee.

The cabinet also allowed one-time exemption in KP PRA rules for purchase of high quality goats from Turkey.

It approved re-constitution of KP Information Technology Board in addition to approving fresh positions for the Counter-terrorism Department in merged districts.

The cabinet with a view to facilitate more people also approved the extension of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) to 23 additional semi-urban union councils. Previously, WSSP was confined to only 42 union councils.

The provincial cabinet also approved to extend the jurisdiction of Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) to all phases of Hayatabad, Regi Model Town (all zones), GT Road Peshawar, Motorway confluence till motorway to Toll Plaza, Kohat Road up to Peshawar urban limits, Nasir Bagh Road, Warsak Road, Charsada Road, all areas where horticulture work have been carried out, including Nowsehra, Akora and Jehangrira areas and all areas notified under section-IV of Gandahara City.

The KP chief minister said the performance of PDA will be properly monitored.

The cabinet meeting approved to declare Chinese province Qinkghai and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as sister provinces and Xining and Peshawar as sister cities.

The cabinet also approved to transfer 15 kanal of the forest reserved land to Gallyat Development Authority for outsourcing of the already established rest places.

The meeting also approved amendments in the Tourism Act 2019 to ensure better management and development.

The cabinet approved to bring four union councils of tehsil Balakot, Kewai, Ghanool, Mohndri, and Khagan back into the jurisdiction of Kaghan Development Authority.

To extend financial assistance to the artists, the provincial cabinet also approved the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Deserving Artists Welfare Endowment Fund Bill 2021.

It also gave approval to the nomination of Hassan Fareed as director of the board of directors of the Rashakai Special Economic Zone Development and Operation Company.

The provincial cabinet also accorded approval to the appointment of Said Mahmood as vice chairman Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade for a period of three years and Ayaz Ali, CEO Interlink Communication Pvt Ltd as its additional member.

The cabinet also empowered the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) to issue succession certificates to legal heirs of movable and immovable properties. This step will facilitate the public to a larger extent to easily get the certificate.

The KP chief minister directed the relevant quarters to take up the matter with the Nadra authorities to establish facilitation counters at the divisional level for facilitation of public.

The cabinet also approved the establishment of Upper Swat Development Authority. This will help in the promotion of tourism in beautiful valley of Swat. It also approved a supplementary grant of Rs300 million as fertiliser subsidy.

The chief minister directed the Cabinet members to prepare a schedule of visit to their respective areas, hold “Khulee Katcheries” and resolve the problems of the masses, concerning their respective departments, at their doorsteps.

He also directed the P&D Department to link preparation of PC-I for the construction of small dams with Command Area Development, as well as construction of watercourses and water channels.