K-P govt to prioritise local hiring in MDs

Express Tribune

23-02-2025

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, while clarifying his government's hiring policy for merged districts, stated that non-technical and local-level positions would be reserved exclusively for residents of those areas, with no recruitment from settled districts.
For technical positions, he added, preference would be given to local candidates to ensure better efficiency and improved departmental performance.
During his visit to the Agriculture Research Institute in Tarnab, the Chief Minister was accompanied by provincial ministers Major (Retd) Muhammad Sajjad and Pakhtun Yar, as well as the commissioner of Peshawar and senior agriculture department officials.
As part of his visit, he inaugurated the newly established Center of Excellence, a state-of-the-art research facility built at a cost of Rs650 million to advance agricultural research in the province.
To strengthen the agriculture sector, the Chief Minister also handed over 90 motorcycles, six tractors, and six mini-trucks to the agriculture department. He toured various stalls set up at the research institute, which showcased innovations and advancements in the sector.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Gandapur emphasized the importance of utilizing national resources efficiently for economic development.
He lamented that despite Pakistan's abundant natural resources, past governments had failed to leverage them wisely. He stressed the need for financial self-reliance to achieve true independence and reiterated his administration's commitment to strengthening provincial institutions both financially and operationally.
Highlighting the critical role of research in enhancing agricultural productivity, he stated that the newly established Center of Excellence would be instrumental in achieving this goal.
He reaffirmed the government's dedication to food security and increasing agricultural output, citing the expedited completion of long-pending small dam projects.
Over the past year, these efforts have brought 400,000 kanals of land under cultivation. This year, the government aims to complete four additional small dam projects, adding another 400,000 kanals of arable land.
He also noted progress on the CRBC Lift Canal project, which, once completed, will bring millions of acres of barren land under cultivation, significantly contributing to the country's food supply.
"If we want to move forward, we must embrace change, identify weaknesses, and work collectively for national progress," he asserted.
He urged a shift from personal interests to collective national development, calling it essential for sustainable growth.
On Saturday, Gandapur visited Nowshera district, where he formally inaugurated the newly constructed Jaroba Dam.
Built at a cost of Rs777 million, the 115-foot-high and 697-foot-wide dam is expected to bring 930 acres of barren land under cultivation by providing 4.65 cusecs of irrigation water.
Additionally, a 6.15-kilometer-long canal has been constructed to facilitate irrigation in adjacent villages.