The provincial cabinet has officially ratified several major projects, including the construction of the 365-kilometer Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway. This move is a massive step forward to heighten connectivity and advancement in the KP Region. This ambitious project is likely to be put into action under a public-private partnership. The major aim of this initiative is to make improvements in the transportation sector especially infrastructure across the region.
The Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway would be constructed as an international trade corridor that would traverse through 12 districts of the province spanning over 365 Km and connect the province with Balochistan and Punjab.
During a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, it was decided that the finance department would begin arrangements for land acquisition, marking a crucial step toward the project’s launch.
The cabinet also approved a series of initiatives aimed at benefiting the province’s citizens, including the upgradation of employees from the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Development Corporation. In line with a Supreme Court decision, all eligible employees will be upgraded by one step, addressing longstanding grievances and providing fairer opportunities for public servants.
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In celebration of Christmas, the provincial government approved Rs. 40 million to be distributed among around 80 churches across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with each receiving Rs. 500,000 as a festive gesture. Additionally, the cabinet confirmed that salaries for Christian employees had already been disbursed, reflecting the government’s commitment to peace, stability, and equality for all communities within the province.
The cabinet also allocated Rs. 300 million for the establishment of a medical and dental college at the Pakistan-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology in Haripur. The funds will be provided in two phases, with Rs. 150 million released for the current financial year and the remaining amount for the next.
In terms of law and order, the cabinet acknowledged a provincial assembly resolution calling for an end to the alleged harassment of Pashtuns by the Islamabad police, urging the federal government to take action to protect the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s citizens.
The cabinet approved cooperation with the Bank of Khyber for the development of community-based accommodation under the Mezban project. This initiative was basically taken to improve tourism for facilitating in high-traffic areas such as Dir, Chitral, Swat, and Mansehra, helping boost the local economy.
Other decisions included the allocation of funds for public universities to meet pension and salary obligations, as well as the approval of Rs. 300 million for the establishment of a Girls’ Cadet College in Dera Ismail Khan. Additionally, amendments to various financial regulations were approved to streamline the province’s public financial management system.
In a bid to improve water and sanitation services, the cabinet also greenlit the creation of a Water and Sanitation Services Company in Haripur, with Rs. 250 million earmarked for its development in the upcoming budget. This is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve public services across the province.
The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is taking bold initiatives to
- Enhance infrastructure
- Stimulate economic growth and development throughout the region
- Promote equality throughout the region instead of serving the elite