PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Monday formed a committee to deliberate modalities for engaging the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for conducting a feasibility study for the establishment of four tertiary care hospitals in the province through public-private partnership.

The cabinet met with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair and ministers, chief secretary and administrative secretaries in attendance.

Spokesman for the government Kamran Khan Bangash told reporters afterwards that the cabinet discussed engaging the IFC, which was a subsidiary of the World Bank, for conducting a feasibility study for four tertiary care hospitals in the province.

Of the hospitals, one will be set up in the capital and others in different parts of the province.

Mr Bangash said the cabinet decided to form a committee to chalk modalities for the purpose.

Rs1bn supplementary grant okayed for 760 schools destroyed in 2005 quake

“The committee will also make recommendations for the promotion of medical tourism in the context of geo-strategic position of the province,” he said.

The CM’s aide said the cabinet also decided to hold local body elections in a phased manner starting from the village and neighbourhood councils in a ‘staggered manner keeping the weather situation in view’.

“The local body polls at tehsil level will be held after the village and neighbourhood council elections,” he said.

Mr Bangash said the ‘staggered and phase-wise’ local body elections would be first held in plain areas of the province.

He said the cabinet was briefed about the Acts passed and rules made for them during the tenure of the incumbent government.

“Since Sept 2018 till date, the provincial assembly has passed 52 acts, while rules have so far been formed and notified for 13 laws. The rules are being framed under 29 laws. A total of 10 pieces of legislation are statuary in nature, which don’t require rules,” he said.

The spokesman said the cabinet also approved amendments to the KP Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Rules to ensure quality-based procurement and timely disposal and leasing out of government assets. He said the cabinet approved the Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) Service Rules with the chief minister asking the relevant authorities to brief the cabinet about the board’s performance.

The chief minister also directed all departments to frame rules under the legislation made by the current and previous governments within a month for the implementation of laws in true spirit for public welfare.

The cabinet also approved the establishment of the Haripur Urban Development Authority and the establishment of police lines in Miramshah and Janikhel areas.

It also approved the release of wheat to flour mills from October.

The cabinet approved the supplementary grant of Rs1 billion for the reconstruction of 760 schools destroyed during the 2005 earthquake.

Mr Bangash said the cabinet approved a grant of Rs80 million for the construction of the Judicial Complex in Pattan, Kohistan, and amendments to the Child Protection and Welfare Rules, 2016.

He said under the Child Protection Amendments Rules, the institute management committees would be formed to ensure better management of institutes like Zamung Kor.

The cabinet also approved the nomination of Aamir Zaki as the CEO of the Water and Sanitation Service, Abbottabad.

Mr Bangash said under the affordable housing scheme, 3.5 marlas plots would be allotted on nominal charges to the people having less than Rs50,000 monthly income, whereas bank loans would also be offered on easy terms for the construction of houses with 10 years recovery period.

He said the house construction would cost Rs1.8 million, including Rs0.3 million subsidy to be provided by federal government.

“Initially, one site in Charsadda district has been selected for the purpose. To extend the scheme to all divisions, a committee has been constituted to select suitable sites on government land,” he said.

The spokesman said the chief minister directed the relevant quarters to select the site for the establishment of a forensic lab on a priority basis.

Mr Mahmood expressed satisfaction with the ruling PTI’s victory in cantonment board elections and said the development showed the people’s confidence in government’s performance.

“The people’s support for provincial government is intact. The PTI will win the next general elections as well,” he said.

The chief minister directed the cabinet members to effectively respond to the ‘negative propaganda’ against the government and inform the people about the steps taken for their welfare.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2021