Latest news with #Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
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.
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
1,514 stray dogs neutered in K-P
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Livestock and Dairy Development Department has successfully neutered 1,514 stray dogs besides vaccinating around 5,048 canines in seven divisions in the past year as part of its efforts to control rabies and stray dog overpopulation. "The Livestock Department had extended the stray dog neutering programme from the provincial metropolis to the divisional level around a year earlier during which 1,514 stray dogs were neutered," said Muhammad Riaz Khan, Senior Veterinary Officer. The initiative of dog neutering had initially been launched in Peshawar in 2020 as a pilot project with the objective of controlling the population of stray dogs to eventually contain the deadly zoonotic disease of rabies caused by dog bites, Riaz said. The drive was a replication of the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended programme 'Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return' (TNVR) to control rabies and the overpopulation of street dogs, Riaz Khan explained. Realising positive results in the form of a 50 per cent decrease in cases of dog bite in Peshawar, the Livestock Department had decided to extend the project to the divisional level. He said the department had also prepared a summary for extension of the drive to the whole of the province at the district level for which an operation theatre would be set up at the Veterinary Hospital for the neutering of stray dogs. "The department has already started training its staff members for operations to neuter dogs which would make them incapable of reproducing," he said. Apart from that, he continued, the Livestock Department and the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) were jointly working for the establishment of a 'Dog Shelter Home' in Peshawar in the Regi Lalma area. He said the shelter home would be a sanctuary for injured, disabled, sick and old stray dogs which would be provided food and necessary medicines. The PDA has proposed the establishment of the dog shelter home on a four-kanal area of land. It would be constructed at a cost of around Rs15 million. This would be the first-ever government-owned dog shelter home in the province which would serve as a role model for a replication of the initiative in other districts. He further said that the neutering of stray dogs was proving beneficial in controlling the deadly rabies disease, adding that the department had also sought fresh data on dog bites and rabies for Peshawar and its adjoining districts from the Health Department to evaluate the performance of the project.
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
CII deems K-P transgender bill unIslamic
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday said reaffirmed its previous stance that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Transgender Bill contains the same unIslamic elements as the Transgender Act of 2018, which had been declared inconsistent with Islamic principles by the council and the Federal Shariat Court. The matter was taken up during a meeting in which the CII members deliberated on a total of 19 agenda items. The session was chaired by CII Chairman Dr Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi. Additionally, the council expressed concerns over the bill's inclusion of the Guru-Chela (mentor-disciple) concept, deeming it unIslamic. The council ruled that granting first wife the right to annul her marriage if her husband remarries without her permission is un-Islamic. Any judicial ruling that permits such annulment contradicts Islamic teachings. It was decided that premarital testing for thalassemia or other contagious diseases can be included in the Nikahnama (marriage contract) as an optional provision. However, the decision to marry will remain solely at the discretion of both parties under Islamic law. The council ruled that organ transplantation, particularly of the kidney and the liver, is permissible as long as the donor's life is not endangered. The council ruled that newly hired employees can be required to participate in the contributory pension system, but existing employees cannot be compelled to join it. Additionally, it stressed that pension funds must be entirely free from interest-based financial systems. The council stressed that Zakat funds should be distributed to deserving individuals without unnecessary delays. However, if administrative procedures cause delays, these funds can be placed in profit-generating Islamic bank accounts. In the event of any financial losses, the government will be responsible for compensating them. In the meeting, four experts from the Sindh Institute of Child and Neonatology were invited to present a briefing on the establishment of a human milk bank. They provided detailed responses to 33 queries raised by the council members. Additional questions from the members were also addressed. The council decided to conduct an in-depth study on the matter and will present its final decision in the next meeting. It was decided that Islamic terms such as Salah (prayer), Ayah (verse), and Masjid (mosque) should be retained in their original Arabic form instead of being translated into English. The council emphasised that scholars and intellectuals should raise awareness at their respective levels regarding the issue of electricity theft.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur enunciates women uplift projects
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur launched Gender Parity Report 2024 at the Chief Minister's House on Tuesday in connection with International Women's Day. The event, organized by the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, was attended by Minister for Social Welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah, K-P Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi, officials from Social Welfare Department, and large number of women from various walks of life. The Gender Parity Report 2024 is a comprehensive data-driven document that highlights gender equality trends in the province, providing insights into access to services, socio-economic participation, and political representation of men and women. The report aims to serve as a guiding document for stakeholders working towards gender equality. Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the importance of accurate data for policymaking and decision-making, and commended the officials involved in compiling the report, stating that no developmental initiative can succeed without reliable data. He assured that the issues identified in the report would be addressed on a priority basis, and after endorsement by the provincial assembly, it would be shared with the federal government to encourage nationwide efforts for gender equality. The K-P CM reaffirmed his government's commitment to women's participation in economic and social programs, particularly through the Ehsaas Youth Employment and Ehsaas Skills Development initiatives. He said that women, who make up more than half of the country's population, are key to national progress and that protecting the rights of women and marginalized groups is essential for prosperity. Highlighting efforts in girls' education, he remarked that the provincial government had established 2,800 Girls' Community Schools, providing education to thousands of girls. Additionally, a voucher scheme had been launched to enroll out-of-school girls, while scholarships and stipends were being provided to reduce the dropout rate in government schools. Ali Amin Gandapur pointed out that the government had set up Women Police Desks in police stations and established Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Courts across the province to improve women's safety and access to justice. He said special open forums (Khuli Kacheris) are being organized under the Public Agenda Program to address women's issues on a priority basis. The K-P CM said the provincial government has launched Sahara Card Program, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to widows aged 45 and above. Additionally, the government is facilitating women's inheritance rights, ensuring they receive their legal share of property.
Express Tribune
10-02-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
K-P govt dispatches emergency medicines to Upper Kurram
Listen to article The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has dispatched a fresh supply of emergency medicines to Upper Kurram while maintaining its ongoing helicopter relief operations, provincial health adviser Ehtesham Khan said on Monday. More than 500kg of emergency medicines, donated by various NGOs and charity organisations, are being airlifted to the region aboard the provincial government's MI-17 helicopter. The supplies will be handed over to the medical superintendent in Parachinar. Despite the crisis, the federal government has yet to provide any medicines or financial assistance, Ehtesham Khan said, criticising the inaction. "People of Kurram continue to look towards the centre for support, but nothing has arrived so far," he added. Meanwhile, local authorities report that helicopter evacuations have transported over 230 people across the district, with flights still underway. More than 1,200 patients have received medical treatment as relief efforts persist. In a bid to restore peace, district officials and tribal elders are discussing measures to ensure the enforcement of a recent security agreement. The administration has also confirmed the demolition of bunkers in Piwar and Balish Khel to strengthen stability in the area. Last week, authorities in Kurram district demolished four more bunkers as part of ongoing efforts to enforce a local peace agreement, while rival factions are set to hold a second round of talks in Peshawar today, according to Express News. According to district officials, the removal of bunkers is proceeding as agreed, with the latest demolitions taking place in Balish Khel and Anarkali using explosives. Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Kohat peace accord, which aims to stabilise the region. Measures such as escorted convoys are also being introduced to ensure public safety.
