By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, strongly condemned what it described as “inhuman treatment” of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, citing denial of access to doctors and family members as a violation of constitutional and human rights. The cabinet demanded immediate medical access to clarify his health condition.
CM Afridi also criticized recent police actions against PTI lawmakers in Karachi and alleged abduction and torture of Ali Zaman, calling for strict legal action against those responsible. He highlighted the launch of an online open court (Khuli Katcheri) system to improve public access to government officials, directing secretaries, ministers, and district administrations to hold weekly open sessions.
The cabinet approved a Rs12,500 Ramadan Support Package for over one million deserving families through direct digital payments, prioritizing widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, transgender individuals, and disaster-affected households. Government and semi-government employees were excluded.
Additional approvals included a Rs496 million grant for families of 190 law enforcement martyrs, financial assistance for critically ill patients, reconstitution of the Quran Board, appointments to the National Commission for Minorities, passage of the Kalash Marriage Bill, and amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act to protect minority rights.
The KP Women Empowerment Policy 2026-2030 was endorsed, emphasizing economic participation, social services, legal protection, political leadership, digital inclusion, and climate resilience. Measures to enhance food security were also approved, including the purchase of 175,000 metric tons of wheat at over Rs19 billion and sugar deregulation to stabilize supply.
Other key decisions included additional funding for Gabral Kalam and Madian hydropower projects, restoration of 325 non-functional IT labs, internet connectivity for 958 schools, and a tele-education pilot for 175 schools.
The cabinet also approved the creation of Kundi tehsil in Tank district, police infrastructure grants, hospital upgrades, a fruit and vegetable market in Bara, financial support for sports athletes, and amendments to SOPs for development in protected forests. The cabinet further authorized sending a summary to the Election Commission to request an extension for local government delimitation schedules.
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