Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has said that provincial government has decided to provide Rs.10 thousand cash assistance to five thousand families in each and every provincial constituency as Ramadan package.
He was chairing the 22nd meeting of cabinet here on Friday. The cabinet meeting was attended by Minsters, Advisors, Special Assistants, Additional Chief Secretaries, Senior Member Board of Revenue and Administrative Secretaries.
The Chief Minister directed cabinet members to keep close contact with the people at the grass root level to ensure that nobody takes undue benefit from the needs of the people during the holy month of Ramadan. He also said that all MPAs would be asked to help prepare the lists of deserving families to provide them assistance.
He also directed his cabinet members to interact with the people to include their inputs in their proposals for the next Annual Development Program. He directed that work must be started for preparation for the next year ADP.
On the occasion, cabinet approved revised PC-1/DCE’S of the project “Up-gradation of IRNUM PET-CT/Cyclotron Project”, extension of the ‘D-Talk and Insulin for life’ project with the help of foreign grant worth US$ 5.00 million, detailed proposal for conversion of Provincial Government MI-17 Helicopter into an air ambulance. The cabinet directed the Aviation Wing of Administration Department to carry out modification of the helicopter as per ambulance requirement and its operation by rescue 1122.
The cabinet exempted the Humanitarian Cargo (International Shipments) by World Food Program through Torkham in Transit Trade with Afghanistan through Custom Stations located in the province and reduced the Infrastructure Development Cess in respect of the Transit Trade with Afghanistan at the rate of one percent of the value of goods imported to the province.
The Cabinet approved creation of a Provincial Police Station for the Special Investigation Wing Anti-Corruption Establishment KP, extension of the incumbent Female Technocrat member for the Local Government Commission, creation of one post of Finance Manager (BPS-16) and 03 post of Coach (BPS-16) in Sports Department and amendment in KP promotion policy 2009.
Scholarships
The Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur also launched scholarships under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation for students enrolled in higher educational institutions. In this regard, a ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Peshawar, attended by Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, Secretary for Higher Education Kamran Ahmad Afridi, Managing Director of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation Zarif-ul-Maani, and other officials. The scholarship program will provide scholarships to 204 students based on merit. The initiative will cost Rs 20 million during the current fiscal year. Through these scholarships, students from the province will be able to get free education in different higher educational institutions across the country. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also announced special scholarships for students from backward districts of the province. He stated that the provincial government would provide an additional amount of Rs 100 million as seed money for this purpose. This will enhance the scholarship seed money from Rs 300 million to Rs 400 million. The additional Rs 100 million will be exclusively allocated for scholarships for students from underprivileged areas. The Chief Minister emphasized that the promoting education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of the top priority of the incumbent provincial government, adding that government is spending huge resources for the purpose. The seed money for the Chief Minister’s Education Endowment Fund has also been enhanced from Rs 1.2 billion to Rs 2.4 billion, while a separate fund of Rs 2 billion has been established for the Education Card in the province. He assured that resources will be provided on a priority basis for the education of talented and deserving students, ensuring that no child is deprived of education due to financial constraints. Later, the 41st meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, where various agenda items were discussed and approved.