In a sweeping set of decisions aimed at addressing both immediate crises and long-term development, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) cabinet has approved a significant relief package for flood victims and raised the provincial minimum wage.
The measures were greenlit during the 38th cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, covering a wide spectrum of governance, welfare, and infrastructure initiatives.
Immediate Aid and Economic Relief
Responding to the devastation caused by recent floods in Bajaur, the government allocated a Rs. 1.247 billion relief package to support displaced families. In a move to combat inflation and support the workforce, the cabinet also announced an increase in the minimum monthly wage from Rs. 36,000 to Rs. 40,000.
Further demonstrating its regional humanitarian commitment, the province sanctioned Rs100 million worth of rations for victims of the recent earthquake in Afghanistan.
Infrastructure and Development Projects
Significant investments in public infrastructure were announced. The cabinet approved the addition of 50 new buses to Peshawar’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fleet to improve urban mobility. In a major boost for tourism and conservation, plans were finalized to establish the country’s largest safari park in Nowshera.
The Forest Department was granted over 14,700 acres of land in Tank’s Banda Piru for a large-scale reforestation project. To promote the province’s cultural heritage, a K-P Arts and Crafts display centre will be established in Islamabad, and the historic Chashma Rest House in Dera Ismail Khan was transferred to the Archaeology Department for preservation.
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Police, Healthcare, and Administrative Reforms
The meeting also focused on key reforms. Major police infrastructure projects were approved, including the reconstruction of the Pak Sadd Shaheed Police Lines and the establishment of new police stations and posts in Peshawar and Nowshera.
In the health sector, Oghi Hospital in Mansehra was upgraded to a Category-D facility. The cabinet also cleared a Rs6 million grant for a kidney transplant case and approved the upgrade of Swabi’s sub-jail to a district jail, authorizing necessary staff and prisoner transfers.
Financial and Cultural Initiatives
The cabinet introduced several financial amendments, including increasing the hydropower net revenue share for dam-affected districts from 10% to 15%. Revisions to healthcare rules, the Stamp Act of 1899, and the women’s commission rules were also approved.
Support for cultural diversity was affirmed through grants for the festivals of the Kalash and Bahá’í communities. Administrative convenience was addressed with the approval of a new NADRA office in Dera Ismail Khan, and K-P confirmed its participation in the upcoming Islamabad National Youth Games 2025.
The meeting concluded with officials offering prayers for those who lost their lives in the recent floods and the Afghan earthquake, as well as for the swift recovery of the injured. A government communications strategy was approved, and a briefing on wheat supplies indicated a stable outlook, with officials vowing to continue procurement if needed.
