PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Thursday decided that legal heirs of the officials, health workers and Rescue 1122 personnel, who died on the frontline of the fight against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), would receive Rs7 million cash compensation.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and attended by cabinet members, chief secretary Dr Kazim Niaz and administrative secretaries here.

The cabinet approved a uniform package for the legal heirs of officials, who died of Covid-19, while fighting the virus. A senior doctor has died of the virus in Peshawar since its outbreak.

The cabinet also approved the establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Power Transmission and Grid System Company under which the province can set up its own grid and transmission system for electricity distribution.

The chief minister’s adviser on media affairs Ajmal Khan Wazir told reporters that in light of the prevailing Covid-19 situation, the general holidays were extended until May 15, while ban on inter-district public transport, parks, restaurants, hotels, recreation points, and other such areas would continue until further orders.

Cabinet also gives green light to power transmission, grid system company

Also, no one will be allowed to meet those kept in jails.

Mr Wazir said the cabinet also allowed milk shops to remain open even after 4pm and approved the reopening of cattle markets for smooth supply of meatand other products.

However, SOPs will be developed and necessary measures will be taken to implement the decision.

The adviser said the cabinet approved the Epidemic Control and Emergency Relief Ordinance to give legal protection to all measures taken to control Covid-19 or any other epidemic, including keeping of patients in isolation or quarantine, ban on public gatherings and inter-provincial and inter-district movement of transport, and other administrative measures.

He said the cabinet also decided that head of the family, restaurant and hotel administrators, transport dealers and other heads of any business were bound to report the emergency of Corona virus in the family members, or employees and in case of violation, they would be proceeded with the law, which could be imprisonment or fine or both.

Mr Wazir said the measures taken by the government for the people’s relief had been given legal protection.

He said there would be 20 per cent discount in the private school fee totalling more than Rs6,000 a month, while 10 per cent fee discount would be ensured for the schools charging students less than Rs6,000 a month.

The adviser said the owner of houses and shops won’t expel tenants for three months over non-payment of rent and the period could be extended for six months if the emergency situation continued.

He said the cabinet approved the draft of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forensic Science Emergency Bill, 2020, under which an independentprovincial forensic science agency would be established in the province.

Mr Wazir said after the approval of the ordinance, for courts assistance, forensic material, documents, equipment and evidence they could have an expert forensic advice to help investigate crimes of complicated nature.

The bill also underlines the rules and regulations for the appointment of the director general besides financial and administrative affairs of the agency.

The advisor said the cabinet also approved the ‘status of full Khasadar’ for the tribal security personnel working on part-time basis or on half pay on the positions of the regular Khasadars and that they will be entitled to claim full benefits like the full Khasadar force personnel.

The cabinet approved the establishment of special courts under the Narcotics Control Act 2019, for the trial of punishable crimes, while the existingcourts of district and sessions judges, additional district and session judge and first class judicial magistrate courts will perform as special courts.

The Local Council Delimitation Rules, 2019, under which the election commission will soon begin demarcation process was also approved.

The cabinet through an ordinance also made amendments in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013 which had waived off the provision of minimum population for neighborhood andvillage council in the prevailing situation, the local government elections have been delayed and will be held any time as the situation improved.

Mr Wazir said in line with the directivesof Prime Minister Imran Khan, the cabinet also waived off the licensing and inspection fee for small businesses for their development.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2020