The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet on Wednesday approved funds for multiple uplift projects across the province.
The 37th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet was held here on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair. Cabinet members, Additional Chief Secretaries, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Administrative Secretaries and Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the meeting.
The meeting began with Fateha for the martyrs of the recent floods. The Cabinet received a comprehensive briefing on the human and material losses caused by the disaster and on the relief and rehabilitation measures already underway. The Cabinet was informed that the first phase of the rescue operation has been completed, while the search for missing persons continues.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur paid glowing tribute to the district administration, Rescue 1122, and all concerned departments and institutions for their timely, courageous, and effective response. He stated that their tireless efforts in saving precious lives during the floods were commendable and deserved the highest appreciation.
He assured the families of martyrs and the injured that compensation payments are being disbursed and reaffirmed his government’s strong commitment that no victim will be left behind, and every affected person will receive due support.
He directed the immediate restoration of health centres in affected areas with full availability of essential medicines and the deployment of mobile hospitals. He further stressed proactive measures to prevent possible outbreaks of epidemics, provision of fodder for livestock, and necessary steps to protect animals from diseases.
The Chief Minister also ordered the launch of a special cleanliness campaign in all flood-affected areas, the urgent restoration of drinking water schemes such as tube wells, and the speedy rehabilitation of road connectivity.
He stated that data on property damages is being collected, and the provincial government will ensure that those whose houses have been destroyed will be provided with new homes. He further announced that compensation would also cover livestock losses, while business owners who suffered damages would be supported with a comprehensive package. To accelerate relief and rehabilitation work, the Chief Minister directed the deployment of additional officers in the affected districts. He assured the people that the provincial government is determined and fully capable of helping its citizens rebuild their lives and stand on their feet again.
Ali Amin Gandapur also acknowledged the generosity of people who are approaching the government to support the victims. For this purpose, he announced the opening of a special account to ensure that all public donations are delivered to the rightful beneficiaries with complete transparency.
The Chief Minister said that, in addition to the already allocated Rs. 3 billion, another Rs. 2 billion has been released to strengthen ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in the flood-affected areas.
Briefing the Cabinet, Additional Chief Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs, Abid Majid, said that rescue operations in flood-affected districts were in progress and senior government officers were present on the spots. He updated the cabinet about the death toll, restoration of damaged infrastructure and assistance being provided to the flood-affected.
While sharing the data of each affected district, Abid Majid informed data of death toll, missing persons, damaged infrastructure, shops, houses, crops and cattle is being collected, adding that once the losses in Bajaur, Dir, Buner, Batagram, Mansehra, Swabi, Shangla and Abbottabad are assessed, will be tabled before the cabinet. He informed that the concerned departments have been directed to expedite data collection so that affectedees could be compensated swiftly.
He also apprised the cabinet that PESCO and other departments engaged in flood-affected areas were also using the provincial government’s machinery. Urging the cellular companies to ensure maximum coverage in the flood-affected areas, Abid Majid informed that 65% coverage has been restored in the area; however, the dwellers need hundred percent restoration so that they can get connected with their nears and dears. Abid Majid briefed the cabinet about food and non-food supplies being distributed amongst the flood-affectedees, adding that an aerial survey for damage assessment was also in progress. Abid Majid, on the occasion, informed that the planning and development department has come up with an application through which all kind of data in the affected areas can be accessed by anyone anytime.
Responding to the urgent needs of various departments and the pressing requirement for rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by the recent floods, the Provincial Cabinet approved a supplementary grant of Rs. 20 billion. The funds will be utilised for fast-moving and near-completion projects across the province to ensure fast completion. The Cabinet also granted approval for intra-sectoral re-appropriation of funds to facilitate smooth financial management and efficient utilisation of resources.
The Cabinet sanctioned financial assistance for victims of the recent floods, approving Rs. 2.00 million for each deceased and Rs. 0.50 million for each injured. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the release of Rs. 1.00 billion (initially) to PDMA for the launch of a “Food Stamp” initiative under which Rs. 15,000 will be provided to each flood-affected family.
It approved Rs. 180.300 million as a one-time special grant to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police for the families of Shuhada and for injured police personnel. It also approved a Shuhada package for the five martyred crew members of the Helicopter crash in Mohmand during the Bajaur air relief operation.
In view of the forthcoming holy month of Rabi-ul-Awal, the Cabinet approved the sanction and release of Rs. 62.3 million as Grant-in-Aid for organising Seerat Conferences at Peshawar, divisional headquarters, and all districts of the province.
The Cabinet also approved exemption from the Release Policy for the Financial Year 2025-26 for the Peshawar High Court and granted it full access to the SAP system for posting funds to individual projects under the Law & Justice Sector, along with authority to carry out intra-sectoral re-appropriations, in line with last year’s practice.
The Cabinet approved financial assistance of Rs. 20.00 million in favour of Shaukat Yousafzai, former Member Provincial Assembly, for medical treatment.
For strengthening rescue and relief operations, the Cabinet approved the transfer of two kanals of land in the name of the Relief, Rehabilitation & Settlement Department for the establishment of a Rescue-1122 station at Tehsil Barang, District Bajaur.
The Cabinet also approved a non-ADP scheme amounting to Rs. 1,380.825 million for the construction of Kumbar Bypass Road (4.5 km) in District Dir Lower.
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In legislative matters, the Cabinet approved certain amendments in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Public Service Act, 2014. It approved the appointment of Chief Commissioner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Public Service Commission and nomination of two members for the Workers Welfare Board.
