Business Recorder
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved the establishment of the University of Applied and Modern Sciences for the merged districts of the erstwhile Federal Administered Tribal Area (Fata). The approval has been granted to the scheme in 50th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in the chair. The cabinet has also decided to form a committee under the chairmanship of the provincial minister for Local Government to finalise modalities for establishing the state-of-the-art university. The meeting further approved abolition of 55 vacant support staff posts in the Agriculture University under the provincial government’s austerity policy, which will result in a monthly saving of Rs 9 million. The provincial cabinet has also accorded in-principle approval to posting and transfer guidelines for the higher education sector. Implementation of these guidelines will help address shortages of teaching and administrative staff in colleges located in remote areas. The cabinet also granted conditional approval of Rs 229 million as grant-in-aid for the Auqaf department to meet certain essential expenditures. In view of the prevailing crisis situation, the cabinet agreed in principle to a proposal for voluntary deduction of two days’ basic salary of government officers in Grade-20 and above, and directed the Finance Department to devise a mechanism for obtaining their consent. The cabinet was informed that both the previous and present governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have so far reduced POL expenditure on official vehicles by 60 percent under the austerity policy. It also approved necessary amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Teaching Institutions Appellate Tribunal Rules, 2020, and granted MTI status to Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals. Furthermore, the cabinet approved a grant-in-aid of Rs 10 million for Fatimid Foundation for treatment of underprivileged children suffering from thalassemia, creation of 598 paid intern nurse posts in various hospitals of the province, and grant-in-aid of Rs 993 million for operationalisation of Timergara Medical College and early commencement of classes there. The cabinet also approved appointment of seven new non-official members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Care Commission. The cabinet approved a non-ADP scheme for purchase of land for establishment of a Tehsil Sports Complex at Paroa, D I Khan; financial assistance for wheelchair cricket players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who participated in the Pak-Afghan Series 2025 and Asia Cup 2023-24; and a special grant-in-aid for sponsorship of the recently held National Bodybuilding Championship in Peshawar. The cabinet has approved appointment of two new members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board Peshawar and grant-in-aid of Rs 80 million for Mufti Mahmood College, D I Khan during the current financial year. The meeting also approved introduction of Matric Tech and Inter Tech programmes in selected government schools as a pilot project. The two-year project will cost Rs 450 million, under which 70 government schools will be declared Centres of Excellence, while 1,650 students will be provided scholarships to acquire modern technical skills in line with contemporary requirements. The cabinet also approved appointment of seven staff members in the Service Delivery Units of the Chief Secretary’s Office under a market-based salary policy. The meeting further approved use of a digital platform for payment of various fees under the Electricity Rules, 1937, and decided to withdraw the Madian Hydropower Station project from the World Bank programme and pursue other viable implementation options. Amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Excise Duty on Minerals Labour Welfare Act, 2021 were also approved. The cabinet also approved release of an additional Rs 20 million to the district administration for provision of facilities and other relief measures at camps established for internally displaced families in Arandu, Lower Chitral, due to tensions along the western borders. The meeting also approved release of Rs 785 million to the Relief Department for procurement of boats and other necessary equipment as pre-emptive measures to deal with any untoward situation during the monsoon season. The cabinet also approved Budget Strategy Paper 2026-27 for preparation of the upcoming financial year’s budget and sanctioned financial assistance for treatment of 27 deserving patients suffering from complicated diseases. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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