Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has directed the authority of Revenue Department to ensure issuance of “Fard” to the applicants within two days failing which strict action will be taken against the concerned Patwaris. The Chief Minister further directed the Revenue Department to bring necessary amendments in the rules for transfer of Patwaris at divisional level so that inter-districts transfers of Patwaris can be made within a Division.
He directed all the departments to ensure approval of all their projects reflected in the Annual Development Program upto December 31st 2020 adding that he would convene a review meeting in the first week of January 2021 as no leniency will be tolerated in this regard. The Chief Minister further directed the concerned authorities to construct sheds for labourers waiting on foot-paths to earn livelihood.
He issued these directives while a chairing a meeting of provincial cabinet here on Monday. Members of the provincial cabinet, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary and Administrative Secretaries attended the cabinet meeting. The Chief Minister termed the establishment of shelter homes (Panahgahs) as a pro-poor initiative of the incumbent government and directed the Social Welfare Department to make all the shelter homes in the province fully functional in view of the recent cold wave and to ensure the best possible arrangements and facilities in these shelter homes. He also directed the authorities to provide free of cost meals to the vulnerable and deserving people in these shelter homes and to make sure that no one is forced to spend the night under the open sky in winter season. The Chief Minister directed the Minerals Department to take stern action for curbing the illegal extraction of sand and gravel from rivers beds in Swat and submit a report in this regard within a week. He also directed the Forest Department to take effective action against illegal deforestation in some parts of the province.
Moreover, the Chief Minister directed the Industries Department to complete preparations for the inauguration of two to three new Economic Zones in the month of January and expedite the work on providing electricity to the local industries at affordable rates. He also directed the Industries department to work out a plan to relocate the marble factories established on Warsak Road Peshawar to any other suitable place outside the city to resolve the issue of environmental pollution on permanent basis.
Briefing the mediamen about the decisions of the Cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information Kamran Bangash said that the Cabinet gave conditional approval to the revised Industrial Policy 2020 under which various measures have been proposed for industrial development in the province. Prominent features of the policy include provision of various incentives to investors for promotion of domestic and foreign investment, linkages with industries, provision of facilities to industrialists under one-window operation, provision of soft loans for small and medium enterprises and rehabilitation of old and sick industries in the province etc. The Cabinet conditionally approved amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arms Rules 2014, aimed at ensuring implementation of SOPs for shooting / gun clubs.
Similarly, the Cabinet also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sentencing Bill 2020. The bill proposes the establishment of a sentencing council which will make recommendations for the overall improvement of the criminal justice system. The meeting also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Legal Aid Rules 2020, under which the government will provide legal aid to all those who cannot afford to engage lawyers to pursue their cases in the courts. A simple procedure has been formulated in the policy for engaging lawyers and determination of fees for this purpose.
Kamran Bangash further told that the Cabinet also approved provision of funds for purchasing vehicles for the newly appointed Additional District and Sessions Judges. The Cabinet also approved the appointment of new members for the Board of Directors of Water and Sanitation Companies Mardan, DI Khan, Bannu and Abbottabad.
Similarly, the cabinet, after threadbare discussion on the establishment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Skills Development Fund Company, constituted a committee comprising Cabinet Members Akbar Ayub, Sultan Khan, Taimur Jhagra, Shahram Tarakai, Abdul Karim Khan and Shaukat Yousafzai to further improve the draft proposal and table their recommendations in the next meeting of the Cabinet.
The Special Assistant further said that the Cabinet also approved the provision of funds for generating employment opportunities for the youth and women-folk under the special initiatives of the Department of Sports, Tourism, Culture and Youth Affairs. Under this program, youth will be provided interest free loans ranging from Rs. 5 to 20 lakhs in addition to providing necessary training for initiation of their own businesses. 20% of interest free loans will be specified for minorities, persons with disabilities and transgenders. Similarly, the Cabinet also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Endowment Fund Management, Maintenance of Accounts & Audit Rules 2020 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Affairs Management and disposal of immovable properties “maintenance of accounts and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prohibition of non-bio degradable plastic products” to discourage the use of Polythene Bags.
