PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved the E-Transfer Policy 2025 for teachers under the Elementary & Secondary Education Department. Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi while chairing the meeting of the provincial cabinet said the new policy would ensure transparency and merit in line with the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, enabling teachers to focus on their primary responsibility of imparting education. He added that despite a ban on postings and transfers in the province, more than 400 recommendations had been received, none of which were entertained. Officials briefed the cabinet that the E-Transfer Policy incorporates key indicators such as length of service at the current school, student-teacher ratio, and annual performance results. Additionally, disability, widowhood, separation, and spouse posting factors have also been assigned weight in the policy to ensure fairness and facilitation for deserving cases. Explaining the details of the decisions taken in the meeting, Special Assistant to CM on Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, said that the provincial cabinet has taken a series of major decisions aimed at strengthening governance, improving public services, and supporting vulnerable communities across the province. He said the cabinet undertook a comprehensive review of the education sector and, in addition to the E-Transfer Policy, approved funds amounting more than two billion for the completion of Good Governance Roadmap interventions for E&S Education. To support higher education, the cabinet approved measures to strengthen the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Endowment Fund by releasing a one-time grant-in-aid of Rs. 300 million. The enhancement of the seed money will help provide scholarships to students across the province, including the merged districts. The cabinet also approved Rs. 2.1 million as a grant-in-aid for an Umrah package for six family members of the late Jawad Khan of District Mardan, the first young deceased organ donor in the province. To reduce poverty, the cabinet approved the release of funds for the Ehsaas Rozgar Program, which offers interest-free micro-loans with a 60-month repayment period to help more than 8,000 vulnerable individuals start or expand businesses. In the health sector, the cabinet approved bridge-financing of Rs. 2,130.165 million for the project “Khyber Institute of Child Health & Children Hospital Peshawar,” ensuring completion of remaining work and procurement of essential equipment. It further approved Rs. 454.156 million for the operationalization of the Health Sciences Institute at Jamrud, including building repairs, furniture, equipment, and other requirements. To ensure uninterrupted immunization services, a block allocation of Rs. 253.160 million was approved for vaccinators. Additionally, the cabinet approved a budget of Rs. 60 million for the Policy Board of the Medical Teaching Institutions and an additional grant of Rs. 1,573.84 million for Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar to meet its medical equipment requirements. The Cabinet approved a feasibility study for the establishment of the Tribal Medical College and a Rs. 10 million grant for a cancer patient’s treatment, he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025