Cabinet approves major climate, legal reforms
The 33rd meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, convened on Friday to deliberate on a broad array of legislative, administrative, and development matters.
Key cabinet members, the Chief Secretary, Advocate General, and senior officials attended the session.
Briefing media on the outcomes, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif, said the cabinet approved the Climate Action Board (CAB) Bill 2025, a landmark step toward a coordinated provincial response to climate change. The financially independent board will oversee climate policies, track greenhouse gas emissions, support climate research, and mobilize funding. It will function autonomously and be empowered to appoint staff and consultants necessary to execute its mandate.
In legislative actions, the cabinet endorsed forwarding three provincial assembly resolutions to the federal government. Resolution No 167, passed on April 28, voiced grave concern over the repeated arrests and alleged mistreatment of former MNA Ali Wazir. It demanded his immediate release, access to medical care, and withdrawal of politically motivated cases.
Resolution No 161 urged a revision of Pakistan's Afghanistan policy, citing its failure to curb terrorism in K-P and its negative impact on bilateral relations. It called for K-P to be given a more active role in peace dialogues.
The third resolution, No 168, condemned India's aggressive posture, including threats related to the Indus Waters Treaty, and expressed solidarity with Pakistan's armed forces. The assembly urged the international community to act against India's violations of international obligations.
Among development projects, the cabinet approved an enhanced budget for the construction of Jani Khel police station in Bannu, increasing costs from Rs100 million to Rs140.43 million. It also sanctioned a cadastral mapping pilot project in Peshawar and Mohmand through an MoU between the Board of Revenue and the Survey of Pakistan.
Further approvals included amendments to Health Department recruitment rules enabling hiring of dental surgeons and nurses, and changes to the Tourism Act 2019 to empower the board to manage employment matters of tourism police.
The cabinet ratified construction of a 750-meter road near Odigram Bridge in Lower Dir at a cost of Rs190 million and raised the budget for Takatak-Haya Sairai Bridge to Rs1.02 billion.
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