Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Aug 23 2016
KPK Updates
- Thread starter Syed Haider Imam
- Start date
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Bomb defused; militant held with explosives
PESHAWAR/CHARSADDA: A bomb was defused in Peshawar while a militant allegedly belonging to an outlawed group was arrested along with arms and explosives in Charsadda on Monday.A police official said the Counter-Terrorism Department was alerted by the locals about the presence of a canister near Patang Chowk on Ring Road. He said the police personnel rushed to the scene and closed the road for traffic, while BDU personnel defused the explosive device. The official said the device weighed around five kilogramme, while CTD also arrested the man who had allegedly planted the bomb.In Charsadda, the police arrested a militant of an outlawed organisation and recovered arms and explosives from him during a raid in Kala Dher area, Imran Khan, SHO city police station, told media persons. He said five kilogramme explosives, two hand grenades and a pistol were seized from him.He said the arrested militant was identified as Ahmedullah alias Saqib of Lashkar-i-Islam group of Mangal Bagh. He hailed from Shalober area of Bara.The police officer said according to preliminary investigation the militant was involved in blowing up headquarters of a peace committee with an IED in Shakas Kokikhel. He also reportedly triggered an explosion in Qamberabad area of Bara, killing a security personnel. He was also involved in killing two security men in an attack in Qamberkhel near Speen Dhand.Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1279408/bomb-defused-militant-held-with-explosives
Lakki council approves Rs334m uplift budget
LAKKI MARWAT: The Lakki Marwat district council on Monday approved Rs334 million development budget for the fiscal year 2016-17 with a major share -- Rs183 million -- going for coping the situations arising out of natural disasters. The budget also earmarked Rs68 million for education sector.The budget session was chaired by convener and district naib nazim Haji Arab Khan.District nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel said Rs33 million would go for health sector while Rs50 million would be spent on uplift schemes in agriculture, women development and youth affairs.Taking part in the budget debate, the councillors demanded that practical measures should be taken to ensure execution of the previous years ADP schemes.They asked the district nazim to direct heads of devolved departments to float tenders in newspapers to pave way for initiating work on uplift projects. The members said long and short-term uplift schemes should be included in the ADP besides funds should be allocated for provision and improvement of healthcare facilities in hospitals. They also demanded financial assistance for flood-hit Kaichi Kamar area.
Swat and Chitral local govts also present annual budgets
The district nazim pointed out that annual budgets of Nowshera, Swabi and some other districts were more than the districts located in southern region of the province.MINGORA: Swat District Nazim Mohammad Ali Shah on Monday presented Rs7.7 billion budget for the year 2016-17.He said a huge Rs6.7 billion had been allocated for non-developmental expenditures, including payment of salaries of the employees of the departments that fell under the local government. He said Rs310 million had been allocated as non-salary budget for the district departments, Rs638 million set aside as development budget while Rs68 million had allocated as the council grant.Opposition leader Ahamd Khan accused the district nazim of not taking opposition into confidence during preparation of the budget.Opposition leader is always consulted and is present during the preparation of budget but I was not consulted during the whole process, he lamented.PTI female councillor Anbia Subhan also alleged that despite several complaints no heed was paid to the demands of the opposition councillors. The female councilors belonging to PTI attempted several times to speak on important issues during the councils sessions but we were not given any opportunity to do so. Only PML-N councillors are given chance to speak, she regretted.But, PML-N woman district councillor Nasim Akhtar rejected the accusation and said every member was given chance to speak his or her mind in the council sessions.CHITRAL: District nazim Maghfirat Shah presented Rs3.5 billion annual budget of district government for the year 2016-17 on Monday, which also included Rs309 million as salary component.He said a sum of R296 million had been provided by the provincial government which also included a special grant of Rs58 million.He said as per existing criterion, 25 per cent of the development budget would be placed on the discretion of the house for further allocation to different sectors on need basis. He maintained that education and communication sectors would get 20 per cent each, water supply schemes 10 per cent and agriculture, women development and youth five per cent each.At the outset of his budget speech, the district nazim tacitly reprimanded the provincial government for employing delaying tactics in devolving powers to the local government as provided in the local government act. He said no problem of people could be solved without the devolution of power in real terms.Published in Dawn, August 23rd,
201http://www.dawn.com/news/1279403/lakki-council-approves-rs334m-uplift-budget
Mansehra district govt flayed for poor performance
MANSEHRA: The JUI-F on Monday criticised the PML-Ns district government for failing to serve the people in Mansehra.Almost all political parties extended support for the approval of budget in the district council but the district government hasnt launched a single development project yet, JUI-F district chief Hidayatullah Shah told reporters here on Monday.Mr. Shah said the people of Mansehra city and adjoining areas had been drinking unhygienic water for decades but the PML-Ns district government didnt earmark a single penny for the clean drinking water despite its announcement.Our party had supported the local government system in the province but most district and tehsil governments have miserably failed to deliver to the disappointment of the people, he said. The JUI-F leader said the city and its suburbs seemed to be a filth depot but neither tehsil nor district government was since in freeing the city of pollution.He said it was unfortunate that the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital destroyed in the 2005 earthquake hadnt been rebuilt to the misery of the people of not only Mansehra but Kohistan, Battagram and Torghar districts too. Mr. Shah warned his party would agitate if the district government didnt serve the people.http://www.dawn.com/news/1279397/mansehra-district-govt-flayed-for-poor-performance
Draft of amendments to RTI Act in limbo
PESHAWAR: A draft of amendments aimed at further empowering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission (RTIC) has been lying in law department for the last several months.The draft proposes several changes to address the existing lacunas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act, 2013.However, officials of the law department as well as RTIC are tightlipped about the reason behind the delay in clearing the draft. The draft was sent by RTIC to law department in February this year.
Changes aimed at empowering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission
An official at RTIC told Dawn that the draft was sent to law department for vetting and the officials concerned were busy in harping on their views.He said that RTI Act was aimed at ensuring transparency in the affairs of the government; however, changing mindset of functionaries was an uphill task. He said that the amendments would further empower the commission.An important element of the draft is to empower public information officer (PIO) at departmental level; however, administrative secretaries are unlikely to accept it, said the official.Another official said that government employees considered RTI Act in conflict with Official Secret Act and Efficiency and Discipline Rules, which shaped the government functionaries mindset during the past many decades. Thats the main reason behind stalling the amendments, he added.The draft proposes several changes to eight sections of RTI Act. The draft proposes to substitute section 2(V) with any court financed by government, from the existing form, where it only covers subordinate judiciary.It also proposes insertion of new sub-sections 4 and 5 in section 6 to empower the PIO. Sub-section 4 reads, a PIO, designated under sub-section (1), shall have the authority to supply all the information held by the public body and officials/officers shall act in aid to PIO to ensure in-time supply of information under the Act. The sub-section 5 says that any violation of sub-section 4, if reported to the RTIC, shall be deemed as willful obstruction under section 26(3) of the Act.The draft proposes insertion of new sub-sections to the section 24 of the Act to provide mechanism for keeping commission alive in case both of its commissioners complete their tenure and bind the government to fill the vacancies within 120 days.The sub-section 10 says that RTIC shall initiate a case for filling the expected vacancy due to retirement of an information commissioner, as the case may be, 120 days before the due date and send it to the government, which shall fill the vacancy within 30 days of its occurrence.While sub-section 11 reads that in case of occurrence of any vacancy otherwise than by retirement, the RTIC shall initiate a case for filling the vacancy within 15 days and the government shall fill the vacancy in 120 days.As the law does not provide any mechanism for recovery of fines imposed by the RTIC, the draft proposes insertion of sub-section 5 and 6 in its section 26.The section 6 reads that the fine imposed under sub-section 3(b) shall be recoverable at source from the civil servants and employees of statutory bodies and as recoverable as government dues.However, a source said that long delay in clearing of the amendments showed that the PTI government was no longer interested in the law. The source said that proposed empowering of PIO and other issues stalled the legislation.A law department official, when approached for comments, said that they cleared the amendments and it was being reviewed by the high-ups. Provincial government spokesperson Mushtaq Ghani was not available for comments.Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1279186/draft-of-amendments-to-rti-act-in-limbo
Health dept moves to implement protection of breastfeeding law
PESHAWAR: The health department has established a board at the provincial level to pave the way for implementation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Act 2015, according to officials.The law remained in hibernation since its passage by the provincial assembly on Jan 22, 2015. Last week, the health department issued a notification regarding formation of KP Infant Feeding Board and District Infant Feeding Committees, in line with provision of the law, to put brakes on unethical promotional practices by manufacturers of the formula milk and ensure availability of pure food in the market.The 11-member provincial board that will work under the health minister will receive complaints regarding violation of the law and recommend investigation to the government against manufacturers, distributors or health workers found to be violating the Act. Each committee in the districts will function under the nazim.
KP Infant Feeding Board, district bodies being established
Sources said that the law was drafted in 2012, but frequent changes at the top level in health department delayed its passage from the assembly.The health department has started making rules under the law trough a private consultancy firm to make up for the lost time. The sources said that the law had now been implemented as the board and committees would enforce it through the health and other departments. The legalisation was mandatory because after the 18th amendment, every province was required to have provincial law regarding food, the sources said.Formation of rules will take about three months after which the department would implement the law with the help of a full-fledged nutritional cell at the office of director general health services and offices of the district health and relevant departments, including food, agriculture, police, etc.This piece of legislation covers all sorts of foods and drinks for adult as well as children, they said. The law will come into force immediately when the first meeting of the board and committees would take place.The Pakistan Pediatrics Association has been calling upon the government to enforce the law and prevent manufacturers from presenting their products as substitute for breast milk.The association wants the government to create public awareness that up to six months the children should be given mothers milk exclusively after which there should be complementary food alongside natural milk till they reach two years of age.The law strictly prohibits misleading advertisements, gifts or benefits to health professionals or associations and hospitals by manufacturers or distributors. It also imposes strict penalties on manufacturers if caught donating equipment to hospitals or health professionals.The manufacturers would also clearly mention the ingredients of their products on the label and the violators could face prison up to two years or fine of Rs200,000 to Rs500,000 or both.Last week, the provincial lawmakers pledged to work for implementation of the law at an awareness session organised by the United Rural Development Organisation, after they were briefed about undernourishment scenario in people, especially women and children.Published in Dawn, August 22nd,
2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1279164/health-dept-moves-to-implement-protection-of-breastfeeding-law
PESHAWAR/CHARSADDA: A bomb was defused in Peshawar while a militant allegedly belonging to an outlawed group was arrested along with arms and explosives in Charsadda on Monday.A police official said the Counter-Terrorism Department was alerted by the locals about the presence of a canister near Patang Chowk on Ring Road. He said the police personnel rushed to the scene and closed the road for traffic, while BDU personnel defused the explosive device. The official said the device weighed around five kilogramme, while CTD also arrested the man who had allegedly planted the bomb.In Charsadda, the police arrested a militant of an outlawed organisation and recovered arms and explosives from him during a raid in Kala Dher area, Imran Khan, SHO city police station, told media persons. He said five kilogramme explosives, two hand grenades and a pistol were seized from him.He said the arrested militant was identified as Ahmedullah alias Saqib of Lashkar-i-Islam group of Mangal Bagh. He hailed from Shalober area of Bara.The police officer said according to preliminary investigation the militant was involved in blowing up headquarters of a peace committee with an IED in Shakas Kokikhel. He also reportedly triggered an explosion in Qamberabad area of Bara, killing a security personnel. He was also involved in killing two security men in an attack in Qamberkhel near Speen Dhand.Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1279408/bomb-defused-militant-held-with-explosives
Lakki council approves Rs334m uplift budget
LAKKI MARWAT: The Lakki Marwat district council on Monday approved Rs334 million development budget for the fiscal year 2016-17 with a major share -- Rs183 million -- going for coping the situations arising out of natural disasters. The budget also earmarked Rs68 million for education sector.The budget session was chaired by convener and district naib nazim Haji Arab Khan.District nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel said Rs33 million would go for health sector while Rs50 million would be spent on uplift schemes in agriculture, women development and youth affairs.Taking part in the budget debate, the councillors demanded that practical measures should be taken to ensure execution of the previous years ADP schemes.They asked the district nazim to direct heads of devolved departments to float tenders in newspapers to pave way for initiating work on uplift projects. The members said long and short-term uplift schemes should be included in the ADP besides funds should be allocated for provision and improvement of healthcare facilities in hospitals. They also demanded financial assistance for flood-hit Kaichi Kamar area.
Swat and Chitral local govts also present annual budgets
The district nazim pointed out that annual budgets of Nowshera, Swabi and some other districts were more than the districts located in southern region of the province.MINGORA: Swat District Nazim Mohammad Ali Shah on Monday presented Rs7.7 billion budget for the year 2016-17.He said a huge Rs6.7 billion had been allocated for non-developmental expenditures, including payment of salaries of the employees of the departments that fell under the local government. He said Rs310 million had been allocated as non-salary budget for the district departments, Rs638 million set aside as development budget while Rs68 million had allocated as the council grant.Opposition leader Ahamd Khan accused the district nazim of not taking opposition into confidence during preparation of the budget.Opposition leader is always consulted and is present during the preparation of budget but I was not consulted during the whole process, he lamented.PTI female councillor Anbia Subhan also alleged that despite several complaints no heed was paid to the demands of the opposition councillors. The female councilors belonging to PTI attempted several times to speak on important issues during the councils sessions but we were not given any opportunity to do so. Only PML-N councillors are given chance to speak, she regretted.But, PML-N woman district councillor Nasim Akhtar rejected the accusation and said every member was given chance to speak his or her mind in the council sessions.CHITRAL: District nazim Maghfirat Shah presented Rs3.5 billion annual budget of district government for the year 2016-17 on Monday, which also included Rs309 million as salary component.He said a sum of R296 million had been provided by the provincial government which also included a special grant of Rs58 million.He said as per existing criterion, 25 per cent of the development budget would be placed on the discretion of the house for further allocation to different sectors on need basis. He maintained that education and communication sectors would get 20 per cent each, water supply schemes 10 per cent and agriculture, women development and youth five per cent each.At the outset of his budget speech, the district nazim tacitly reprimanded the provincial government for employing delaying tactics in devolving powers to the local government as provided in the local government act. He said no problem of people could be solved without the devolution of power in real terms.Published in Dawn, August 23rd,
201http://www.dawn.com/news/1279403/lakki-council-approves-rs334m-uplift-budget
Mansehra district govt flayed for poor performance
MANSEHRA: The JUI-F on Monday criticised the PML-Ns district government for failing to serve the people in Mansehra.Almost all political parties extended support for the approval of budget in the district council but the district government hasnt launched a single development project yet, JUI-F district chief Hidayatullah Shah told reporters here on Monday.Mr. Shah said the people of Mansehra city and adjoining areas had been drinking unhygienic water for decades but the PML-Ns district government didnt earmark a single penny for the clean drinking water despite its announcement.Our party had supported the local government system in the province but most district and tehsil governments have miserably failed to deliver to the disappointment of the people, he said. The JUI-F leader said the city and its suburbs seemed to be a filth depot but neither tehsil nor district government was since in freeing the city of pollution.He said it was unfortunate that the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital destroyed in the 2005 earthquake hadnt been rebuilt to the misery of the people of not only Mansehra but Kohistan, Battagram and Torghar districts too. Mr. Shah warned his party would agitate if the district government didnt serve the people.http://www.dawn.com/news/1279397/mansehra-district-govt-flayed-for-poor-performance
Draft of amendments to RTI Act in limbo
PESHAWAR: A draft of amendments aimed at further empowering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission (RTIC) has been lying in law department for the last several months.The draft proposes several changes to address the existing lacunas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act, 2013.However, officials of the law department as well as RTIC are tightlipped about the reason behind the delay in clearing the draft. The draft was sent by RTIC to law department in February this year.
Changes aimed at empowering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission
An official at RTIC told Dawn that the draft was sent to law department for vetting and the officials concerned were busy in harping on their views.He said that RTI Act was aimed at ensuring transparency in the affairs of the government; however, changing mindset of functionaries was an uphill task. He said that the amendments would further empower the commission.An important element of the draft is to empower public information officer (PIO) at departmental level; however, administrative secretaries are unlikely to accept it, said the official.Another official said that government employees considered RTI Act in conflict with Official Secret Act and Efficiency and Discipline Rules, which shaped the government functionaries mindset during the past many decades. Thats the main reason behind stalling the amendments, he added.The draft proposes several changes to eight sections of RTI Act. The draft proposes to substitute section 2(V) with any court financed by government, from the existing form, where it only covers subordinate judiciary.It also proposes insertion of new sub-sections 4 and 5 in section 6 to empower the PIO. Sub-section 4 reads, a PIO, designated under sub-section (1), shall have the authority to supply all the information held by the public body and officials/officers shall act in aid to PIO to ensure in-time supply of information under the Act. The sub-section 5 says that any violation of sub-section 4, if reported to the RTIC, shall be deemed as willful obstruction under section 26(3) of the Act.The draft proposes insertion of new sub-sections to the section 24 of the Act to provide mechanism for keeping commission alive in case both of its commissioners complete their tenure and bind the government to fill the vacancies within 120 days.The sub-section 10 says that RTIC shall initiate a case for filling the expected vacancy due to retirement of an information commissioner, as the case may be, 120 days before the due date and send it to the government, which shall fill the vacancy within 30 days of its occurrence.While sub-section 11 reads that in case of occurrence of any vacancy otherwise than by retirement, the RTIC shall initiate a case for filling the vacancy within 15 days and the government shall fill the vacancy in 120 days.As the law does not provide any mechanism for recovery of fines imposed by the RTIC, the draft proposes insertion of sub-section 5 and 6 in its section 26.The section 6 reads that the fine imposed under sub-section 3(b) shall be recoverable at source from the civil servants and employees of statutory bodies and as recoverable as government dues.However, a source said that long delay in clearing of the amendments showed that the PTI government was no longer interested in the law. The source said that proposed empowering of PIO and other issues stalled the legislation.A law department official, when approached for comments, said that they cleared the amendments and it was being reviewed by the high-ups. Provincial government spokesperson Mushtaq Ghani was not available for comments.Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1279186/draft-of-amendments-to-rti-act-in-limbo
Health dept moves to implement protection of breastfeeding law
PESHAWAR: The health department has established a board at the provincial level to pave the way for implementation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Act 2015, according to officials.The law remained in hibernation since its passage by the provincial assembly on Jan 22, 2015. Last week, the health department issued a notification regarding formation of KP Infant Feeding Board and District Infant Feeding Committees, in line with provision of the law, to put brakes on unethical promotional practices by manufacturers of the formula milk and ensure availability of pure food in the market.The 11-member provincial board that will work under the health minister will receive complaints regarding violation of the law and recommend investigation to the government against manufacturers, distributors or health workers found to be violating the Act. Each committee in the districts will function under the nazim.
KP Infant Feeding Board, district bodies being established
Sources said that the law was drafted in 2012, but frequent changes at the top level in health department delayed its passage from the assembly.The health department has started making rules under the law trough a private consultancy firm to make up for the lost time. The sources said that the law had now been implemented as the board and committees would enforce it through the health and other departments. The legalisation was mandatory because after the 18th amendment, every province was required to have provincial law regarding food, the sources said.Formation of rules will take about three months after which the department would implement the law with the help of a full-fledged nutritional cell at the office of director general health services and offices of the district health and relevant departments, including food, agriculture, police, etc.This piece of legislation covers all sorts of foods and drinks for adult as well as children, they said. The law will come into force immediately when the first meeting of the board and committees would take place.The Pakistan Pediatrics Association has been calling upon the government to enforce the law and prevent manufacturers from presenting their products as substitute for breast milk.The association wants the government to create public awareness that up to six months the children should be given mothers milk exclusively after which there should be complementary food alongside natural milk till they reach two years of age.The law strictly prohibits misleading advertisements, gifts or benefits to health professionals or associations and hospitals by manufacturers or distributors. It also imposes strict penalties on manufacturers if caught donating equipment to hospitals or health professionals.The manufacturers would also clearly mention the ingredients of their products on the label and the violators could face prison up to two years or fine of Rs200,000 to Rs500,000 or both.Last week, the provincial lawmakers pledged to work for implementation of the law at an awareness session organised by the United Rural Development Organisation, after they were briefed about undernourishment scenario in people, especially women and children.Published in Dawn, August 22nd,
2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1279164/health-dept-moves-to-implement-protection-of-breastfeeding-law
Last edited:
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Govt denied share in Peshawar Cantonment property tax
PESHAWAR: The Cantonment Board Peshawar overseen by the federal government hasnt long paid the provincial government 15 per cent of the property tax collected in the areas under its administrative control.
The dues payable to the provincial excise and taxation department on this count since 2010 total Rs70 million, officials of the department told Dawn.
The officials said the department had repeatedly asked the CBP to pay arrears, but to no avail.
Taxation dept mulling imposition of fine on CBP, seizure of its assets
They insisted the CBP had no legal justification for the denial of payments.
Section 3 of the Presidential Order No 13 of 1979 states: Fifteen per cent of the net proceeds of the tax referred to in Paragraph (b) of Clause (I), collected on or after the commencement of this Order, shall be paid by the cantonment board concerned to the provincial government.
And the Paragraph (b) of Clause (I) of the Presidential Order states: The cantonment board of a cantonment shall continue to levy---collect, in accordance with the provisions of the Cantonments Act 1924, the tax assessed on the annual value of buildings and lands.
The officials said the KP government was duly paid the due share in the CBP property tax collections until 2009 but thereafter, the KP government struggled to get it.
From 2010 to 2013, the CBP shared only information with the E&T department regarding the arrears under the head of property tax, which stood at around Rs30 million in 2013. However, it didnt make any payment, an official told Dawn.
The official said since 2013, the CBP didnt bother to inform the department about the increased arrears and that there was a likelihood of its arrears crossing the Rs70 million mark.
We are in contact with the CBP for the payment of dues as the KP government is facing serious financial problems, a senior official in E&T department said.
He however said the CBP was unwilling to pay arrears to his departments frustration.
We are seriously thinking about other options to claim dues, including imposition of fine on the CBP, and seizure of its movable properties, he said.
The official said the department could impose 100 per cent penalty of the original payable tax amount on the CBP. When contacted, CBP chief executive officer Adil Rafi Siddiqi said prior to the issuance of the presidential order, the property tax was collected by the provincial government.
At that time, the provincial government used to get 15 per cent of the property tax collected in the cantonment areas as collection charges with the rest going to the cantonment board, he said.
Mr. Siddiqi said after the presidential order was issued, the responsibility of tax collection was shifted to the CBP but despite that, the presidential order allowed the provincial government to charge 15 per cent of the collected property tax.
We are bound to act in line with the presidential order, he said.
Appointed the CBP chief in June 2015, he said he had been in correspondence with E&T department director general Nasir Khan to develop a mechanism for payment of tax along with arrears in easy installments.
Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1278975/govt-denied-share-in-peshawar-cantonment-property-tax
Peshawar districts Rs10.66bn budget okayed
PESHAWAR: Amid the oppositions boycott against discretionary funds for nazim and naib-nazim, the Peshawar District Council on Friday approved the Rs10.66 billion budget of the city district government for the financial year 2016-17.
The opposition members locked the entrance to the councils hall from outside and stayed put for half an hour before going to the opposition leaders chamber shouting slogans against nazim Mohammad Asim Khan and naib nazim Qasim Ali Shah.
The protesters said they wont allow anyone to enter the premises and that they had planned to move the high court against the discretionary funds for nazim and naib nazim in the budget next Monday.
However, the city district governments officials later broke the lock for the budget session.
The session was slated to begin at 2:30pm but began at 3pm.
After a brief discussion on budget, convener of the council Qasim Ali Shah put the budget to vote.
The PTI and JI members, who were present in the hall, unanimously approved the budget.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, JI councillor Khalid Waqas Chamkani urged the nazim to review the decision regarding discretionary funds for himself and naib nazim.
He said it was unfortunate that 27 per cent of development funds had been placed on the discretion of nazim and naib-nazim.
Mr. Chamkani said efforts should be made to use development funds properly in the best interest of the people.
No chance should be given to the relevant authorities to commit corruption in the execution of development schemes, he said.
The councillor said the opposition councillors had the right to protest but they should have participated in the process of the budgets approval.
The opposition members protest was led by opposition leader Syed Zahir advocate of the ANP, Razaullah Khan of the PPP, Raham Dil Nawaz of the PML-N.
The protesting councillors, who belonged to the PPP, ANP, PML-N and JUI-F, later declared the city district governments budget the budget of nazim and naib nazim.
They told reporters that the city district government had earmarked Rs988.53 million for development schemes and ironically, Rs189.14 million of the funds had been placed on the discretion of the nazim and Rs80 million on the naib nazims.
The opposition members said PTI chief Imran Khan recently announced a ban on the discretionary funds of the chief minister, ministers and MPAs but even then, Peshawars district nazim and naib nazim had allocated a handsome amount of money in funds for themselves.
They said the entire development budget revolved around nazim and naib nazim.
The protesters also distributed to reporters a letter forwarded by Peshawar deputy commissioner Riaz Mehsud to the provincial chief secretary, Peshawar commissioner, finance and local government secretaries expressing concerns about the city district governments budget.
In the letter, the DC has said the budget for health and education departments under the head of petty repairs and medicines had been reduced.
Needless to point out that the file containing budget proposals pertaining to salary and non salary was returned (to city district government) with certain observations with the request to review/revisit the budget proposals, it read.
The letter added that the budget was presented in the council without the removal of observations, which was mandatory under the rules of business.
It is requested that the presentation of the budget proposals without consent of the undersigned (Deputy Commissioner Peshawar) being principal accounting officer will not only lead to a lot of ambiguities but also result in lot of technical irregularities and problems for future. Hence necessary instructions may be issued to the District nazim to carry out their functions within the framework of the budgetary rules 2016 please, it said.
Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1278778/peshawar-districts-rs1066bn-budget-okayed
Imran Khan calls angry PTI lawmakers for meeting
PESHAWAR: Ostensibly, the disgruntled PTI parliamentarians and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly members are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Neither they have sufficient strength in the house to be an effective pressure group for the leadership nor do they dare take risk to quit the party.
Instead, their strength is constantly on the decline.
Disgruntled group puts off unveiling of future plans against KP govt
Two years ago, 18 PTI members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had formed a bloc against Chief Minister Pervez Khattak but the number has shrunk to six, including an independent lawmaker from Mardan district and another from Kohat who has been expelled from the party.
Majority of the annoyed MPAs have joined the Khattak group.
The disgruntled group currently consisting of four MNAs and six MPAs held a meeting at the residence of MNA Khayal Zaman here on Friday and invited media to cover the announcement of its future course of action against the own partys government in the province.
The announcement was postponed at the eleventh hour as its self-declared convener and MPA Yaseen Khan Khalil informed reporters that the group had put off the unveiling of the future plan after receiving a telephonic call from Imran Khan.
He said Imran Khan had summoned the disgruntled members for a meeting in Bani Gala, Islamabad, on Saturday to know about their grievances against the provincial government.
Some representatives of the PTI sister organisations also attended the meeting.
We were about to announce the decisions of the meeting when (Imran) Khan Sahib called our colleagues and asked them to come to Bani Gala to discuss their issues, he said, adding that the meeting with the partys chairman was scheduled to begin at around 4pm.
Mr. Khalil said the group would discuss the whole situation with the party chairman.
The provincial government has failed to follow the partys manifesto and thus, badly affecting the PTI popularity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said.
The angry PTI leader said one of the groups main demands was across-the-board accountability.
He alleged that corrupt elements had looted billions of rupees in the province but the current KP government didnt recover a single piney from them.
Mr. Khalil said the group had reservations about allocations of funds for development schemes, while the performance of few provincial ministers was unsatisfactory.
He said the government had kept the PTI chief in the dark about the ground situation, which was totally different from what was being shown to Imran Khan.
The PTI leader said the group would continue struggle for the implementation of the partys manifesto.
He said the group expected positive response from the partys central leaders and felt it would direct the provincial government to expedite work on 13 points action plan announced by Imran Khan last month.
Mr. Khalil said if the group didnt get satisfactory response from Imran Khan on its demands, it would announce future line of action in the next meeting.
Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1278769/imran-khan-calls-angry-pti-lawmakers-for-meeting
PESHAWAR: The Cantonment Board Peshawar overseen by the federal government hasnt long paid the provincial government 15 per cent of the property tax collected in the areas under its administrative control.
The dues payable to the provincial excise and taxation department on this count since 2010 total Rs70 million, officials of the department told Dawn.
The officials said the department had repeatedly asked the CBP to pay arrears, but to no avail.
Taxation dept mulling imposition of fine on CBP, seizure of its assets
They insisted the CBP had no legal justification for the denial of payments.
Section 3 of the Presidential Order No 13 of 1979 states: Fifteen per cent of the net proceeds of the tax referred to in Paragraph (b) of Clause (I), collected on or after the commencement of this Order, shall be paid by the cantonment board concerned to the provincial government.
And the Paragraph (b) of Clause (I) of the Presidential Order states: The cantonment board of a cantonment shall continue to levy---collect, in accordance with the provisions of the Cantonments Act 1924, the tax assessed on the annual value of buildings and lands.
The officials said the KP government was duly paid the due share in the CBP property tax collections until 2009 but thereafter, the KP government struggled to get it.
From 2010 to 2013, the CBP shared only information with the E&T department regarding the arrears under the head of property tax, which stood at around Rs30 million in 2013. However, it didnt make any payment, an official told Dawn.
The official said since 2013, the CBP didnt bother to inform the department about the increased arrears and that there was a likelihood of its arrears crossing the Rs70 million mark.
We are in contact with the CBP for the payment of dues as the KP government is facing serious financial problems, a senior official in E&T department said.
He however said the CBP was unwilling to pay arrears to his departments frustration.
We are seriously thinking about other options to claim dues, including imposition of fine on the CBP, and seizure of its movable properties, he said.
The official said the department could impose 100 per cent penalty of the original payable tax amount on the CBP. When contacted, CBP chief executive officer Adil Rafi Siddiqi said prior to the issuance of the presidential order, the property tax was collected by the provincial government.
At that time, the provincial government used to get 15 per cent of the property tax collected in the cantonment areas as collection charges with the rest going to the cantonment board, he said.
Mr. Siddiqi said after the presidential order was issued, the responsibility of tax collection was shifted to the CBP but despite that, the presidential order allowed the provincial government to charge 15 per cent of the collected property tax.
We are bound to act in line with the presidential order, he said.
Appointed the CBP chief in June 2015, he said he had been in correspondence with E&T department director general Nasir Khan to develop a mechanism for payment of tax along with arrears in easy installments.
Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1278975/govt-denied-share-in-peshawar-cantonment-property-tax
Peshawar districts Rs10.66bn budget okayed
PESHAWAR: Amid the oppositions boycott against discretionary funds for nazim and naib-nazim, the Peshawar District Council on Friday approved the Rs10.66 billion budget of the city district government for the financial year 2016-17.
The opposition members locked the entrance to the councils hall from outside and stayed put for half an hour before going to the opposition leaders chamber shouting slogans against nazim Mohammad Asim Khan and naib nazim Qasim Ali Shah.
The protesters said they wont allow anyone to enter the premises and that they had planned to move the high court against the discretionary funds for nazim and naib nazim in the budget next Monday.
However, the city district governments officials later broke the lock for the budget session.
The session was slated to begin at 2:30pm but began at 3pm.
After a brief discussion on budget, convener of the council Qasim Ali Shah put the budget to vote.
The PTI and JI members, who were present in the hall, unanimously approved the budget.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, JI councillor Khalid Waqas Chamkani urged the nazim to review the decision regarding discretionary funds for himself and naib nazim.
He said it was unfortunate that 27 per cent of development funds had been placed on the discretion of nazim and naib-nazim.
Mr. Chamkani said efforts should be made to use development funds properly in the best interest of the people.
No chance should be given to the relevant authorities to commit corruption in the execution of development schemes, he said.
The councillor said the opposition councillors had the right to protest but they should have participated in the process of the budgets approval.
The opposition members protest was led by opposition leader Syed Zahir advocate of the ANP, Razaullah Khan of the PPP, Raham Dil Nawaz of the PML-N.
The protesting councillors, who belonged to the PPP, ANP, PML-N and JUI-F, later declared the city district governments budget the budget of nazim and naib nazim.
They told reporters that the city district government had earmarked Rs988.53 million for development schemes and ironically, Rs189.14 million of the funds had been placed on the discretion of the nazim and Rs80 million on the naib nazims.
The opposition members said PTI chief Imran Khan recently announced a ban on the discretionary funds of the chief minister, ministers and MPAs but even then, Peshawars district nazim and naib nazim had allocated a handsome amount of money in funds for themselves.
They said the entire development budget revolved around nazim and naib nazim.
The protesters also distributed to reporters a letter forwarded by Peshawar deputy commissioner Riaz Mehsud to the provincial chief secretary, Peshawar commissioner, finance and local government secretaries expressing concerns about the city district governments budget.
In the letter, the DC has said the budget for health and education departments under the head of petty repairs and medicines had been reduced.
Needless to point out that the file containing budget proposals pertaining to salary and non salary was returned (to city district government) with certain observations with the request to review/revisit the budget proposals, it read.
The letter added that the budget was presented in the council without the removal of observations, which was mandatory under the rules of business.
It is requested that the presentation of the budget proposals without consent of the undersigned (Deputy Commissioner Peshawar) being principal accounting officer will not only lead to a lot of ambiguities but also result in lot of technical irregularities and problems for future. Hence necessary instructions may be issued to the District nazim to carry out their functions within the framework of the budgetary rules 2016 please, it said.
Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1278778/peshawar-districts-rs1066bn-budget-okayed
Imran Khan calls angry PTI lawmakers for meeting
PESHAWAR: Ostensibly, the disgruntled PTI parliamentarians and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly members are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Neither they have sufficient strength in the house to be an effective pressure group for the leadership nor do they dare take risk to quit the party.
Instead, their strength is constantly on the decline.
Disgruntled group puts off unveiling of future plans against KP govt
Two years ago, 18 PTI members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had formed a bloc against Chief Minister Pervez Khattak but the number has shrunk to six, including an independent lawmaker from Mardan district and another from Kohat who has been expelled from the party.
Majority of the annoyed MPAs have joined the Khattak group.
The disgruntled group currently consisting of four MNAs and six MPAs held a meeting at the residence of MNA Khayal Zaman here on Friday and invited media to cover the announcement of its future course of action against the own partys government in the province.
The announcement was postponed at the eleventh hour as its self-declared convener and MPA Yaseen Khan Khalil informed reporters that the group had put off the unveiling of the future plan after receiving a telephonic call from Imran Khan.
He said Imran Khan had summoned the disgruntled members for a meeting in Bani Gala, Islamabad, on Saturday to know about their grievances against the provincial government.
Some representatives of the PTI sister organisations also attended the meeting.
We were about to announce the decisions of the meeting when (Imran) Khan Sahib called our colleagues and asked them to come to Bani Gala to discuss their issues, he said, adding that the meeting with the partys chairman was scheduled to begin at around 4pm.
Mr. Khalil said the group would discuss the whole situation with the party chairman.
The provincial government has failed to follow the partys manifesto and thus, badly affecting the PTI popularity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said.
The angry PTI leader said one of the groups main demands was across-the-board accountability.
He alleged that corrupt elements had looted billions of rupees in the province but the current KP government didnt recover a single piney from them.
Mr. Khalil said the group had reservations about allocations of funds for development schemes, while the performance of few provincial ministers was unsatisfactory.
He said the government had kept the PTI chief in the dark about the ground situation, which was totally different from what was being shown to Imran Khan.
The PTI leader said the group would continue struggle for the implementation of the partys manifesto.
He said the group expected positive response from the partys central leaders and felt it would direct the provincial government to expedite work on 13 points action plan announced by Imran Khan last month.
Mr. Khalil said if the group didnt get satisfactory response from Imran Khan on its demands, it would announce future line of action in the next meeting.
Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1278769/imran-khan-calls-angry-pti-lawmakers-for-meeting
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
August 24 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
August 25 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
August 26 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
August 27 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
August 28 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
29 August 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
30 August 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
01 September 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
02 September 2016
Last edited:
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
03 September 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
04 September 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=2]Solar streetlights installed in Dir Khas
UPPER DIR: The installation of solar-powered streetlights has been completed in Dir Khas, the district headquarters of Upper Dir.
Dir tehsil nazim Mir Makhzanuddin said that Rs30.5 million had been approved for the project on the directives of senior minister Inayatullah Khan.
He said that solar lights had been installed on the main Dir- Peshawar road from degree college to the deputy commissioner’s office. He said that the old lights had already been removed in the area.
Residents of Dir Khas said they were happy over the installation of new solar lights because it had provided them the facility of light without any loadshedding. They said that they would not face any difficulty to walk on the road in the night.
Mohammad Ali, a shopkeeper, said that he did not face any difficulty while going home from shop late in the night because of the new lighting system.
Also, residents have started walk at night on the road after installation of the solar lights.
Mohammad Zubair, a resident of Dir, said that he did not believe that it was his old city.
Watchmen at various bazars and markets of Dir city have also welcomed installation of the solar lights, saying it has made their job easy.
Dir Khas people appreciated their elected representatives from the constituency for completing the project and giving them relief from loadshedding.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281924/solar-streetlights-installed-in-dir-khas
[/h][h=2]KP Apex Committee discusses law, order
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Apex Committee here on Saturday discussed the situation arising out of the terrorists’ attacks in Mardan and Warsak area of the provincial capital.
Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra chaired the meeting which was also attended by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Hidayat-ur-Rahman and senior officers, according to a statement.
It was observed that the security measures had to be further streamlined.
The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation and discussed measures to materialise the National Action Plan in letter and spirit. The meeting resolved to bring to book the facilitators of heinous crimes.
The security along China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route also came under discussion and it was told that a Special Patrol Unit will be established on the pattern of Gilgit-Baltistan police.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281939/kp-apex-committee-discusses-law-order
[/h][h=2]Water supply schemes approved for Karak area
KARAK: Adviser to the chief minister on prisons Malik Qasim Khan Khattak has approved three water supply schemes and blacktopping of road in Sorati Kalay area here.
He announced the projects while addressing party workers in his hometown here on Saturday. The lawmaker said water supply schemes would be completed at a cost of Rs10.2 million, adding the road would cost Rs5 million to connect the people with the district headquarters Karak.
Mr Khattak said he had also initiated work on a water supply scheme from Lawagher dam at a cost of Rs380 million to help end water woes in majority areas of his constituency.
The lawmaker said second phase of the Karak-Darratang road would be complete in the stipulated time with Rs250 million.
The lawmaker said several welfare projects had been launched in his constituency with the oil and gas royalty funds.
He expressed hope that the mega project of oil refinery would be established in the district on the basis of merit as the district was producing 75 per cent of oil and gas in the Kohat division
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281927/water-supply-schemes-approved-for-karak-area
[/h][h=2]Call to rebuild dilapidated Malam Jabba road
MINGORA: Local residents and tourists have demanded of the government to reconstruct the dilapidated Malam Jabba road for promoting tourism.
They said before constructing hotels and chairlift in the picturesque region, the government should rebuild the road which is in worst shape.
“From Manglore to Malam Jabba top the road is in very bad shape, hindering all efforts of the provincial government to promote tourism. Until the road is reconstructed, dreaming of improving tourism is just nonsense,” Akbar Khan, a tourist from Mardan, said.
The tourists praised the government for awarding 33 years lease to a company to reconstruct a demolished hotel and develop ski resort along with the chairlift, but stressed that the authorities should first reconstruct the road.
“A visitor does not want to come again to Malam Jabba due to the broken down condition of the road. Usually, the distance between Mingora to Malam Jabba is travelled in one hour, but tourist reach here in three hours because of bad road,” said Ihetisham Khan from Islamabad. He said improved road would give easy access to tourists and would thus promote tourism in a real sense.
Similarly, local residents also face hardships due to dilapidated road. “We cannot reach schools or hospitals in time. Even in emergencies we have to drive very slow on the road as it is potholed, and at some places, the road has become a dirt track,” said Akhun Zada, a resident of Spino Obo area.
The residents said they saw workers of municipality filling the potholes and ditches on the road with dust and earth before VIPs movement but they had not seen proper repair or reconstruction on the road yet.
On Tuesday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak while inaugurating Malam Jabba chairlift along with PTI Chief Imran Khan had announced that the reconstruction of Malam Jabba road would begin by next month.
Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2016
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UPPER DIR: The installation of solar-powered streetlights has been completed in Dir Khas, the district headquarters of Upper Dir.
Dir tehsil nazim Mir Makhzanuddin said that Rs30.5 million had been approved for the project on the directives of senior minister Inayatullah Khan.
He said that solar lights had been installed on the main Dir- Peshawar road from degree college to the deputy commissioner’s office. He said that the old lights had already been removed in the area.
Residents of Dir Khas said they were happy over the installation of new solar lights because it had provided them the facility of light without any loadshedding. They said that they would not face any difficulty to walk on the road in the night.
Mohammad Ali, a shopkeeper, said that he did not face any difficulty while going home from shop late in the night because of the new lighting system.
Also, residents have started walk at night on the road after installation of the solar lights.
Mohammad Zubair, a resident of Dir, said that he did not believe that it was his old city.
Watchmen at various bazars and markets of Dir city have also welcomed installation of the solar lights, saying it has made their job easy.
Dir Khas people appreciated their elected representatives from the constituency for completing the project and giving them relief from loadshedding.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281924/solar-streetlights-installed-in-dir-khas
[/h][h=2]KP Apex Committee discusses law, order
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Apex Committee here on Saturday discussed the situation arising out of the terrorists’ attacks in Mardan and Warsak area of the provincial capital.
Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra chaired the meeting which was also attended by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Hidayat-ur-Rahman and senior officers, according to a statement.
It was observed that the security measures had to be further streamlined.
The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation and discussed measures to materialise the National Action Plan in letter and spirit. The meeting resolved to bring to book the facilitators of heinous crimes.
The security along China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route also came under discussion and it was told that a Special Patrol Unit will be established on the pattern of Gilgit-Baltistan police.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281939/kp-apex-committee-discusses-law-order
[/h][h=2]Water supply schemes approved for Karak area
KARAK: Adviser to the chief minister on prisons Malik Qasim Khan Khattak has approved three water supply schemes and blacktopping of road in Sorati Kalay area here.
He announced the projects while addressing party workers in his hometown here on Saturday. The lawmaker said water supply schemes would be completed at a cost of Rs10.2 million, adding the road would cost Rs5 million to connect the people with the district headquarters Karak.
Mr Khattak said he had also initiated work on a water supply scheme from Lawagher dam at a cost of Rs380 million to help end water woes in majority areas of his constituency.
The lawmaker said second phase of the Karak-Darratang road would be complete in the stipulated time with Rs250 million.
The lawmaker said several welfare projects had been launched in his constituency with the oil and gas royalty funds.
He expressed hope that the mega project of oil refinery would be established in the district on the basis of merit as the district was producing 75 per cent of oil and gas in the Kohat division
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281927/water-supply-schemes-approved-for-karak-area
[/h][h=2]Call to rebuild dilapidated Malam Jabba road
MINGORA: Local residents and tourists have demanded of the government to reconstruct the dilapidated Malam Jabba road for promoting tourism.
They said before constructing hotels and chairlift in the picturesque region, the government should rebuild the road which is in worst shape.
“From Manglore to Malam Jabba top the road is in very bad shape, hindering all efforts of the provincial government to promote tourism. Until the road is reconstructed, dreaming of improving tourism is just nonsense,” Akbar Khan, a tourist from Mardan, said.
The tourists praised the government for awarding 33 years lease to a company to reconstruct a demolished hotel and develop ski resort along with the chairlift, but stressed that the authorities should first reconstruct the road.
“A visitor does not want to come again to Malam Jabba due to the broken down condition of the road. Usually, the distance between Mingora to Malam Jabba is travelled in one hour, but tourist reach here in three hours because of bad road,” said Ihetisham Khan from Islamabad. He said improved road would give easy access to tourists and would thus promote tourism in a real sense.
Similarly, local residents also face hardships due to dilapidated road. “We cannot reach schools or hospitals in time. Even in emergencies we have to drive very slow on the road as it is potholed, and at some places, the road has become a dirt track,” said Akhun Zada, a resident of Spino Obo area.
The residents said they saw workers of municipality filling the potholes and ditches on the road with dust and earth before VIPs movement but they had not seen proper repair or reconstruction on the road yet.
On Tuesday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak while inaugurating Malam Jabba chairlift along with PTI Chief Imran Khan had announced that the reconstruction of Malam Jabba road would begin by next month.
Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2016
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Terror suspects arrested, suicide jacket recoveredCHARSADDA: Shabqadar police arrested two suspected terrorists and recovered a suicide jacket and arms from their possession here on Thursday.DSP Shabqadar Mohammad Fayyaz told mediapersons during a briefing that the suspects riding two motorcycles were nabbed in the limits of Khawajawus police station.He said that the suspects were heading towards their target when police stopped them at a checkpost and recovered a suicide jacket, hand grenades and pistols from their possession.Mr Fayyaz identified the suspects as Qasim, a resident of Mujahidabad in Abbottabad and Wahid Gul, a resident Body Koroona, Michni. He said that the two were involved in several incidents of target killing, extortion, bombing. He said that the suspects were planning to carry out attack in Shabqadar Bazaar.Separately, Umarzai police in Charsadda district sent 32 underage drivers to jail even after a court confirmed their bail.Civil society organisations and local people have criticised the police for sending the teenagers to jail. The teenagers were arrested for violating Section 144 on polio day on Wednesday and charged under Section 6 of Loudspeaker Act for playing songs on high volume.Police presented the boys before a local court which granted them bail at around 2:30pm. However, the police took the boys to Charsadda prison from where they were shifted to Peshawar central jail due to lack of borstal there.Charsadda jail authorities said that they were informed about the bail of the accused after 6:00pm while they had already shifted the boys to Peshawar at around 4:00pm.However, Umerzai police claimed that they had informed the jail authorities at 2:30pm about the bail.Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1281552/terror-suspects-arrested-suicide-jacket-recoveredPeshawar district govt goes onlinePESHAWAR: The city district government of Peshawar on Wednesday inked a memorandum of understanding with Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) and U-Elect to install information, communication and technology tools at its offices to move smartly for local development and facilitation of people.Both the organisations signed a memorandum of understanding with the district nazim to facilitate the district government in website development, online procurement process, recruitment process, citizens feedback mechanism, local government connect and sharing of day to day information with people through website.Under the MoU, a two-day training of local government officials was already arranged at the nazim office on August 30 and 31. A focal person would facilitate the nazim office for three months to update the day to day data on website.The official website of Peshawar is under construction and would formally be launched in September.Syed Kausar Abbas, executive director of SSDO and Shaan Mohammad Khan, chairman of U-Elect, while conducting training workshop of local government staff here at nazim office said that ICT tools were the best way to eliminate corruption and ensure transparency at public offices.District nazim Asim Khan said that all public-related data and procurement and tender process would be uploaded on the website to ensure transparency and merit.GLOBAL NETWORK: Peshawar city has become member of a UK-based global network of municipal leaders, local government practitioners and local communities in building community resilience and social cohesion to counter violent extremism.The Strong Cities Network (SCN) has also invited Peshawar naizm Asim Khan to join refugees and IDPs-related working group.The representative of city district government said that the nazim was committed to strengthening global relations with different networks and alliances. Several other networks have also approached by the district government and they have shown interest in inviting the city to join them.Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1281271/peshawar-district-govt-goes-onlineDRC to resolve murder disputes tooSWABI: The police have tasked the district dispute resolution committee with resolving murder disputes across Swabi out of the court and by peaceful means.Earlier, the committee used to handle minor cases only.The task was assigned to the committee during a meeting at the DRC offices here on Thursday.The police officials, including DPO Javed Iqbal, and DRC members attended the meeting, which was called to discuss ways and means to prevent violence in the region for progress and prosperity.A police official said everyone from elders to DRC members to jirga members should play due role in the settlement of disputes, especially the murder ones, as such animosities usually passed from generation to generation.Other participants also said prolonged murder cases caused loss of lives, money and peoples precious time and thus, leaving stakeholders disadvantaged.DRC member Ghareeb Shah, who hailed from mountainous Gandaf village, said the committee was ready to play due role in resolving murder disputes.Weve already settled various murder disputes by converting serious animosities into excellent friendliness, he said.Another member, Mian Ghulam Bacha, said the people were trying to avoid murders thinking all stakeholders were losers in such occurrences.DPO Javed Iqbal said if the DRC members succeeded in settling most murder cases, the region would be really peaceful.He said the police would continue helping the DRC in the fulfillment of its task.http://www.dawn.com/news/1281545/drc-to-resolve-murder-disputes-tooAmendments to KPEC Act stir controversyPESHAWAR: A controversy has surrounded the recent amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act over the objections of the chief Ehtesab commissioner and four commissioners.On August 3, the KP Assembly had passed the Ehtesab Commission (Amendment) Act 2016 after the months long legal impasse, which had also led to the resignation of retired lieutenant general Hamid Khan, the first director general of the accountability body, in February this year.In an August 22, 2016, letter written to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, the CEC and commissioners have noted that not only some of the recent amendments to the KPEC law were inconsistent with other provisions of the law but theyre out of place and incomprehensible as well driving the law into redundancy.
Ehtesab commissioners insist changes not consistent with other provisions of law, out of place and inexplicable
Interestingly, the DG in his resignation letter had also made similar point, saying the amendments to the law had rendered the post of DG as redundant.The commissioners also point out that none of them was consulted in the pre-enactment exercise undertaken by the select committee of the provincial assembly.The letter notes several instances of legislative lapses or drafting fumbles which require immediate action to rescue the law before its fallouts further mar the objectives of KP Ehtesab Commission.The commissioners have pointed out that in amendment to Section 12(4)(c), the scope of qualification of director general has been unreasonably enlarged and lowered down. It will jeopardise the selection of person as stature as director general.The amendment had increased the categories of people who can be appointed as the KPEC DG from earlier two to four, while at the same time lowered the bar of retired officer of BPS-21/22 to BPS-20 or above.The letter also asks for the empowerment of the CEC for the removal of the acting KPEC DG.By the addition of a provision to sub-section 10 of Section 12, which gives protection to the tenure of acting DG, who took over before the recent amendments to the KPEC, the commissioners called for his replacement by the CEC. The acting DG would remain unbridled till appointment of a regular DG for which process may take longer than desired time, the letter reads.Currently acting DG could only be replaced after appointment of a regular DG.The letter also points out that by not amending Section 16(2) the officers of the directorate general have been left out of the scope of Section 16, which provides for internal monitoring of the performance of the officers of commission and complaints of misconduct against them.The commissioners said in Section 16(2) the words officers of the commission should have been replaced with officers of the directorate general to bring it conformity with other amendments.The letter notes that amendments to sections 18, 19 and 20, which laid down commission approval for re-appropriation of funds, maintenance of book of accounts and provision of estimated expenditure and receipts statement to government. However, following the amendments all these functions have been handed over to the directorate general.The commissioners said that sections of original law should have been amended suitably in order to make these consistent with Section 9-C of the act, which has not been done and anomalies created.Under sub-section(c) of Section 9 of the original act the commission was authorised to approve annual budget of the commission; however, now after the amendment it will approve annual budget of the commission, directorate general and Ehtesab courts.They have also questioned the wisdom of restricting KPEC mandate to investigate cases over monetary limit of Rs. 50 million and above under Section 35 and noted that it would further create anomalies and extending undue benefits to the accused. This would result in mitigation of intensity of the act, it reads.They also pointed out that Section 36(6) which says that in case of delay in inquiry the reasons should be in writing presented to the commission. Under recent amendments this report would be presented to directorate general.The commissioners said that it would pointless to report delay in inquiry to directorate general itself by the director general.Also anomalies have been pointed out in sections 17, 36(2) and 37(4).KPEC Act has turned into a subject of controversy since the beginning of this year. On February 9, 2016, the government promulgated the KPEC Ordinance 2016, drastically amending the law, which resulted into resignation of the then DG, retired general Hamid Khan, in February.However, after much criticism, the ordinance was withdrawn on May 2.Another amendment bill was tabled in the KP Assembly on May 6 and a version of it modified by a select committee of house was passed by the house on August 3.Officials both at the commission and directorate general were not available for comments to the objections to the recent KPEC law amendments.Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1281270/amendments-to-kpec-act-stir-controversy
Ehtesab commissioners insist changes not consistent with other provisions of law, out of place and inexplicable
Interestingly, the DG in his resignation letter had also made similar point, saying the amendments to the law had rendered the post of DG as redundant.The commissioners also point out that none of them was consulted in the pre-enactment exercise undertaken by the select committee of the provincial assembly.The letter notes several instances of legislative lapses or drafting fumbles which require immediate action to rescue the law before its fallouts further mar the objectives of KP Ehtesab Commission.The commissioners have pointed out that in amendment to Section 12(4)(c), the scope of qualification of director general has been unreasonably enlarged and lowered down. It will jeopardise the selection of person as stature as director general.The amendment had increased the categories of people who can be appointed as the KPEC DG from earlier two to four, while at the same time lowered the bar of retired officer of BPS-21/22 to BPS-20 or above.The letter also asks for the empowerment of the CEC for the removal of the acting KPEC DG.By the addition of a provision to sub-section 10 of Section 12, which gives protection to the tenure of acting DG, who took over before the recent amendments to the KPEC, the commissioners called for his replacement by the CEC. The acting DG would remain unbridled till appointment of a regular DG for which process may take longer than desired time, the letter reads.Currently acting DG could only be replaced after appointment of a regular DG.The letter also points out that by not amending Section 16(2) the officers of the directorate general have been left out of the scope of Section 16, which provides for internal monitoring of the performance of the officers of commission and complaints of misconduct against them.The commissioners said in Section 16(2) the words officers of the commission should have been replaced with officers of the directorate general to bring it conformity with other amendments.The letter notes that amendments to sections 18, 19 and 20, which laid down commission approval for re-appropriation of funds, maintenance of book of accounts and provision of estimated expenditure and receipts statement to government. However, following the amendments all these functions have been handed over to the directorate general.The commissioners said that sections of original law should have been amended suitably in order to make these consistent with Section 9-C of the act, which has not been done and anomalies created.Under sub-section(c) of Section 9 of the original act the commission was authorised to approve annual budget of the commission; however, now after the amendment it will approve annual budget of the commission, directorate general and Ehtesab courts.They have also questioned the wisdom of restricting KPEC mandate to investigate cases over monetary limit of Rs. 50 million and above under Section 35 and noted that it would further create anomalies and extending undue benefits to the accused. This would result in mitigation of intensity of the act, it reads.They also pointed out that Section 36(6) which says that in case of delay in inquiry the reasons should be in writing presented to the commission. Under recent amendments this report would be presented to directorate general.The commissioners said that it would pointless to report delay in inquiry to directorate general itself by the director general.Also anomalies have been pointed out in sections 17, 36(2) and 37(4).KPEC Act has turned into a subject of controversy since the beginning of this year. On February 9, 2016, the government promulgated the KPEC Ordinance 2016, drastically amending the law, which resulted into resignation of the then DG, retired general Hamid Khan, in February.However, after much criticism, the ordinance was withdrawn on May 2.Another amendment bill was tabled in the KP Assembly on May 6 and a version of it modified by a select committee of house was passed by the house on August 3.Officials both at the commission and directorate general were not available for comments to the objections to the recent KPEC law amendments.Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2016http://www.dawn.com/news/1281270/amendments-to-kpec-act-stir-controversy
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=2]Educationists favour modern examination practices
PESHAWAR: Educationists on Tuesday called for the replacement of the current traditional examination system with modern and international examination practices.
They said the schoolchildren couldn’t be assessed and evaluated properly through the traditional examination system of resolution of question papers practiced in the country for long.
The educationists said the existing examination system was worrisome for students, teachers and parents as it promoted rote learning among students instead of creativity.
[/h][h=4]Say current system promoting rote learning instead of creativity[/h][h=2]
They expressed these views at a workshop on ‘reforming secondary school examinations with a focus on KP’ on the Peshawar Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education premises here.
The workshop was organised with the support of the Society for the Advancement of Education (SAHE) in collaboration with Open Society Foundations (OSF).
Noted among those in attendance were BISE chairman Dr Mihammad Shafi Afridi, BISE Hyderabad chairman Mohammad Memon, Shahzad Jeeva of the Aga Khan University Examination Board, Unaeza Alvi of the IBA Sukkur and Technical Board chairman Qasim Khan Marwat.
Dr Mohammad Shafi said the efforts had been taken in the last couple of years to modernise the BISE Peshawar secondary examination system.
He highlighted the use of optical mark recognition being applied on the multiple choice questions, which was 20 per cent in each paper of the secondary school certificate examination conducted recently.
Mohammad Memon said he faced pressure from inside and outside of the Hyderabad board when he initiated reforms recently.
“There was variation in terms of quality in the seven education boards of Sindh,” he said.
The board chairman stressed the need for the establishment of a body in each province to oversee the efficiency of education boards.
“No one has bothered to introduce a system for analysis of the results of examinations conducted by boards,” he said.
Unaeza Alvi said called for the use of modern technology in the evaluation of students instead of traditional manual system.
She said only the changing of the exam pattern was not enough and instead, standardisation of textbooks and provision of quality training to teachers were also necessary for improvement of education system.
“It’s strange that every education board prepares own paper different from other boards’ while in the developed countries, the papers are the same for entire country,” she said.
Qasim Khan Marwat said the existing examination system was 200 years old and that it had lost its importance over failure to assess students.
He said teachers, students and parents focused their attentions on examinations instead of learning activities.
“Evaluation of students should be aligned with curricula and activities in classrooms,” he said.
Mr. Marat said the education boards dealt only with external examinations, while there was no concept of internal examination inside classrooms.
“Attitude is an important part of learning but we are unable to assess the attitude of students,” he said.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281088/educationists-favour-modern-examination-practices
[/h][h=2]Whistleblower bill in next PA session
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will table the whistleblower bill in the next session of the provincial assembly for approval.
This was disclosed in a meeting of the assembly’s select committee here on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak chaired the meeting.
[/h][h=4]Those filing false complaints to face fine, punishment[/h][h=2]
An official statement said the participants thoroughly discussed different dimensions of the proposed legislation and suggested certain amendments to it.
They spoke about the ways to make the law more effective and reconcile it to ground realities.
The participants discussed the possible misuse of the law by various interest groups and individuals with mala fide intension and suggested steps against the misuse of the law.
Mr. Khattak said the government was going all-out to have a mechanism of check and balance through a set of legislations in order to ensure open and transparent governance in the province.
“The whistleblower law will bring an end to corruption and corrupt practices and make all governance-related issues transparent in all spares of public dealings and will lead to responsiveness for judicious utilisation of public money,” he added.
The CM said the proposed law was one of the legislation among the set of legislations made by his government to eliminate all sorts of pilferages in public dealings and misuse of power and authority.
He said he was optimistic that the proposed legislation would eliminate commission and other corrupt practices in the public sector institutions and thus, leading to institutional strengthening instead of individual as seen in the past.
The participants agreed on certain measures for the protection of whistleblowers against victimisation and disadvantageous position.
They said if the complaint was filed on mala fide intention, the complainant would be fined and given three years rigorous imprisonment.
The participants said the victim would be allowed to claim compensation if the complaint was found to be based on mala fide intention.
AFGHANS’ TREATMENT: CM Pervez Khattak on Tuesday said the federal government should evolve a mechanism to facilitate cross-border movement of patients coming to Peshawar from Afghanistan for treatment.
He was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting of parliamentary leaders in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
Speaker Asad Qaisar convened the meeting to discuss the issues of Afghan refugees, especially their complaints about ill-treatment and harassment by personnel of law-enforcement agencies.
The CM said a large number of people from Afghanistan came to Peshawar for treatment and education as they didn’t have such proper facilities in own country.
He suggested that the federal government make a policy for Afghan patients and students to facilitate their cross-border movement.
He said the federal government had set the November 15 deadline for the return of unregistered Afghans, while registered refugees could stay in the country until Dec 2016. “They (refugees) will not be disturbed until these deadlines end and that they will be treated as our guests,” he said.
Mr. Khattak said the provincial government would follow the guidelines of the federal government about Afghan nationals in future.
“If an unregistered Afghan is apprehended in any operation during this period, the police will not register FIR against him or her,” he said.
Regarding properties of the departing refugees, the CM said the relevant quarters were receiving complaints regarding disputes over immovable properties of Afghans. He said the government would soon come up with an effective strategy on the issue.
Mr. Khattak said a committee headed by former ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand would be constituted to give recommendations on the issues of refugees.
He said his government would ensure the approval of the recommendations by the assembly before forwarding them to the federal government.
The CM said the provincial government had never tried to pressure Afghan refugees into leaving the province for home.
He said the new border management policy, increase in cash assistance to returning Afghans and plea of the Afghan ambassador in Pakistan for his countrymen to end refuge in Pakistan were the main reasons for higher repatriation of refugees.
Senior minister Inayatullah Khan suggested integration of refugees saying of 1.5 million refugees, 74 per cent were born and grown up in Pakistan.
ANP leader in the provincial assembly Sardar Hussain Babak demanded the immediate end to the harassment of refugees and extension in their repatriation deadline.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281100/whistleblower-bill-in-next-pa-session
[/h][h=2]Fewer ghost schools in KP, now[/h][h=2]ABBOTTABAD: The number of ghost schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has enormously reduced over the last three years due to the government’s reforms.
Also, scores of government schools are being rehabilitated by renovation and provision of educational and sports facilities.
This was revealed during a meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly standing committee on elementary and secondary education here on Tuesday.
MPA Mohammad Arif chaired the meeting, where MPAs Shah Hussain, Raja Faisal Zaman and Amna Sardar, elementary and secondary education director, Hazara division education officers, and relevant officials were also in attendance.
The participants discussed the issue of ghost and closed schools in Hazara division. They criticised the federal government for not rebuilding schools devastated in the region by the 2005 earthquake.
The participants said fresh contact would be made with the federal government for the reconstruction of such educational institutions.
The relevant officials said the provincial government had planned the recruitment of around 15,450 permanent teachers for schools in the province and until that happened, teachers would be hired on daily wage basis.
The committee urged the education department to take over the newly-constructed schools and ensure provision of staff and other facilities there.
Committee chairman Mohammad Arif appreciated the performance of all Hazara division DEOs and said all those performing their duties well, especially regarding educational reforms, should be allowed to continue serving at their current workplace.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281092/fewer-ghost-schools-in-kp-now
[/h][h=2]Chitral tehsil council approves Rs46m deficit budget
CHITRAL: A deficit budget of Rs46 million was presented in tehsil council Chitral on Tuesday which was later approved unanimously in the same sitting chaired by convener Khan Hayatullah Khan.
Presenting the budget, tehsil nazim Maulana Mohammad Ilyas said the expected income of tehsil municipal administration was Rs156 million against the projected expenditure of Rs203 million.
In his budget speech, the tehsil nazim said the devastating flash floods of the last year had left the infrastructure of roads, water supply and irrigation damaged heavily due to which whole of the budget was diverted to rehabilitation of the battered infrastructures.
He said situation was still grim as the magnitude of loss was colossal and the resources available with the council were meager which led to the deficit in the budget.
He urged the house members to come forward with practicable and viable proposals to augment and supplement the resources of the council, which also included levying of local taxes.
Mr Ilyas said the flood-hit people were still waiting for the rehabilitation of their basic infrastructures of water supply and irrigation as shortage of irrigation water had inflicted heavy losses on them.
Giving the break-up of development expenditures, he said 25 per cent of the budget would be spent on water supply schemes, 20 per cent on municipal services and five per cent on beautification of the city. He said 50 per cent funds were available with the council, which would be allocated to members.
The non-development expenses included Rs50 million on salaries, Rs9.40 million on charge expenditures and Rs18 million on contingency.
The members who participated in the debate on the budget included Abdul Haq, Haji Mohammad Sultan, Shamsher Khan, Khosh Mohammad Khan, Farida Sultana, Najma Bibi, and minority member Nazargai Kalash.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281085/chitral-tehsil-council-approves-rs46m-deficit-budget
[/h][h=2]
[/h]
PESHAWAR: Educationists on Tuesday called for the replacement of the current traditional examination system with modern and international examination practices.
They said the schoolchildren couldn’t be assessed and evaluated properly through the traditional examination system of resolution of question papers practiced in the country for long.
The educationists said the existing examination system was worrisome for students, teachers and parents as it promoted rote learning among students instead of creativity.
[/h][h=4]Say current system promoting rote learning instead of creativity[/h][h=2]
They expressed these views at a workshop on ‘reforming secondary school examinations with a focus on KP’ on the Peshawar Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education premises here.
The workshop was organised with the support of the Society for the Advancement of Education (SAHE) in collaboration with Open Society Foundations (OSF).
Noted among those in attendance were BISE chairman Dr Mihammad Shafi Afridi, BISE Hyderabad chairman Mohammad Memon, Shahzad Jeeva of the Aga Khan University Examination Board, Unaeza Alvi of the IBA Sukkur and Technical Board chairman Qasim Khan Marwat.
Dr Mohammad Shafi said the efforts had been taken in the last couple of years to modernise the BISE Peshawar secondary examination system.
He highlighted the use of optical mark recognition being applied on the multiple choice questions, which was 20 per cent in each paper of the secondary school certificate examination conducted recently.
Mohammad Memon said he faced pressure from inside and outside of the Hyderabad board when he initiated reforms recently.
“There was variation in terms of quality in the seven education boards of Sindh,” he said.
The board chairman stressed the need for the establishment of a body in each province to oversee the efficiency of education boards.
“No one has bothered to introduce a system for analysis of the results of examinations conducted by boards,” he said.
Unaeza Alvi said called for the use of modern technology in the evaluation of students instead of traditional manual system.
She said only the changing of the exam pattern was not enough and instead, standardisation of textbooks and provision of quality training to teachers were also necessary for improvement of education system.
“It’s strange that every education board prepares own paper different from other boards’ while in the developed countries, the papers are the same for entire country,” she said.
Qasim Khan Marwat said the existing examination system was 200 years old and that it had lost its importance over failure to assess students.
He said teachers, students and parents focused their attentions on examinations instead of learning activities.
“Evaluation of students should be aligned with curricula and activities in classrooms,” he said.
Mr. Marat said the education boards dealt only with external examinations, while there was no concept of internal examination inside classrooms.
“Attitude is an important part of learning but we are unable to assess the attitude of students,” he said.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281088/educationists-favour-modern-examination-practices
[/h][h=2]Whistleblower bill in next PA session
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will table the whistleblower bill in the next session of the provincial assembly for approval.
This was disclosed in a meeting of the assembly’s select committee here on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak chaired the meeting.
[/h][h=4]Those filing false complaints to face fine, punishment[/h][h=2]
An official statement said the participants thoroughly discussed different dimensions of the proposed legislation and suggested certain amendments to it.
They spoke about the ways to make the law more effective and reconcile it to ground realities.
The participants discussed the possible misuse of the law by various interest groups and individuals with mala fide intension and suggested steps against the misuse of the law.
Mr. Khattak said the government was going all-out to have a mechanism of check and balance through a set of legislations in order to ensure open and transparent governance in the province.
“The whistleblower law will bring an end to corruption and corrupt practices and make all governance-related issues transparent in all spares of public dealings and will lead to responsiveness for judicious utilisation of public money,” he added.
The CM said the proposed law was one of the legislation among the set of legislations made by his government to eliminate all sorts of pilferages in public dealings and misuse of power and authority.
He said he was optimistic that the proposed legislation would eliminate commission and other corrupt practices in the public sector institutions and thus, leading to institutional strengthening instead of individual as seen in the past.
The participants agreed on certain measures for the protection of whistleblowers against victimisation and disadvantageous position.
They said if the complaint was filed on mala fide intention, the complainant would be fined and given three years rigorous imprisonment.
The participants said the victim would be allowed to claim compensation if the complaint was found to be based on mala fide intention.
AFGHANS’ TREATMENT: CM Pervez Khattak on Tuesday said the federal government should evolve a mechanism to facilitate cross-border movement of patients coming to Peshawar from Afghanistan for treatment.
He was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting of parliamentary leaders in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
Speaker Asad Qaisar convened the meeting to discuss the issues of Afghan refugees, especially their complaints about ill-treatment and harassment by personnel of law-enforcement agencies.
The CM said a large number of people from Afghanistan came to Peshawar for treatment and education as they didn’t have such proper facilities in own country.
He suggested that the federal government make a policy for Afghan patients and students to facilitate their cross-border movement.
He said the federal government had set the November 15 deadline for the return of unregistered Afghans, while registered refugees could stay in the country until Dec 2016. “They (refugees) will not be disturbed until these deadlines end and that they will be treated as our guests,” he said.
Mr. Khattak said the provincial government would follow the guidelines of the federal government about Afghan nationals in future.
“If an unregistered Afghan is apprehended in any operation during this period, the police will not register FIR against him or her,” he said.
Regarding properties of the departing refugees, the CM said the relevant quarters were receiving complaints regarding disputes over immovable properties of Afghans. He said the government would soon come up with an effective strategy on the issue.
Mr. Khattak said a committee headed by former ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand would be constituted to give recommendations on the issues of refugees.
He said his government would ensure the approval of the recommendations by the assembly before forwarding them to the federal government.
The CM said the provincial government had never tried to pressure Afghan refugees into leaving the province for home.
He said the new border management policy, increase in cash assistance to returning Afghans and plea of the Afghan ambassador in Pakistan for his countrymen to end refuge in Pakistan were the main reasons for higher repatriation of refugees.
Senior minister Inayatullah Khan suggested integration of refugees saying of 1.5 million refugees, 74 per cent were born and grown up in Pakistan.
ANP leader in the provincial assembly Sardar Hussain Babak demanded the immediate end to the harassment of refugees and extension in their repatriation deadline.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281100/whistleblower-bill-in-next-pa-session
[/h][h=2]Fewer ghost schools in KP, now[/h][h=2]ABBOTTABAD: The number of ghost schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has enormously reduced over the last three years due to the government’s reforms.
Also, scores of government schools are being rehabilitated by renovation and provision of educational and sports facilities.
This was revealed during a meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly standing committee on elementary and secondary education here on Tuesday.
MPA Mohammad Arif chaired the meeting, where MPAs Shah Hussain, Raja Faisal Zaman and Amna Sardar, elementary and secondary education director, Hazara division education officers, and relevant officials were also in attendance.
The participants discussed the issue of ghost and closed schools in Hazara division. They criticised the federal government for not rebuilding schools devastated in the region by the 2005 earthquake.
The participants said fresh contact would be made with the federal government for the reconstruction of such educational institutions.
The relevant officials said the provincial government had planned the recruitment of around 15,450 permanent teachers for schools in the province and until that happened, teachers would be hired on daily wage basis.
The committee urged the education department to take over the newly-constructed schools and ensure provision of staff and other facilities there.
Committee chairman Mohammad Arif appreciated the performance of all Hazara division DEOs and said all those performing their duties well, especially regarding educational reforms, should be allowed to continue serving at their current workplace.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281092/fewer-ghost-schools-in-kp-now
[/h][h=2]Chitral tehsil council approves Rs46m deficit budget
CHITRAL: A deficit budget of Rs46 million was presented in tehsil council Chitral on Tuesday which was later approved unanimously in the same sitting chaired by convener Khan Hayatullah Khan.
Presenting the budget, tehsil nazim Maulana Mohammad Ilyas said the expected income of tehsil municipal administration was Rs156 million against the projected expenditure of Rs203 million.
In his budget speech, the tehsil nazim said the devastating flash floods of the last year had left the infrastructure of roads, water supply and irrigation damaged heavily due to which whole of the budget was diverted to rehabilitation of the battered infrastructures.
He said situation was still grim as the magnitude of loss was colossal and the resources available with the council were meager which led to the deficit in the budget.
He urged the house members to come forward with practicable and viable proposals to augment and supplement the resources of the council, which also included levying of local taxes.
Mr Ilyas said the flood-hit people were still waiting for the rehabilitation of their basic infrastructures of water supply and irrigation as shortage of irrigation water had inflicted heavy losses on them.
Giving the break-up of development expenditures, he said 25 per cent of the budget would be spent on water supply schemes, 20 per cent on municipal services and five per cent on beautification of the city. He said 50 per cent funds were available with the council, which would be allocated to members.
The non-development expenses included Rs50 million on salaries, Rs9.40 million on charge expenditures and Rs18 million on contingency.
The members who participated in the debate on the budget included Abdul Haq, Haji Mohammad Sultan, Shamsher Khan, Khosh Mohammad Khan, Farida Sultana, Najma Bibi, and minority member Nazargai Kalash.
Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1281085/chitral-tehsil-council-approves-rs46m-deficit-budget
[/h][h=2]
[/h]
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
30 August 2016
Govt to pay over Rs50m for registration of medical students
PESHAWAR: The provincial government will pay Rs53.212 million to Pakistan Medical and Dental Council to get registered the students, who were admitted to medical and dental colleges on the seats exceeding the allocated quota in academic year 2008-09.
Sources said that chief minister approved the summary, sent to him by health department, on Monday to pay the amount to PMDC and get registered the students, who were given admission when seats were not available in the colleges. The government had enrolled 30 students in dentistry department of Bacha Khan Medical College, which was established in January 2012, sources said.
They said that other medical colleges also admitted more students than the allotted quota and PMDC refused to grant registrations to them. It put the future of students at stake, they said.
Sources said that on the persuasion of PMDC members from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the students were asked to pay Rs57,000 per head to get registered and stand recognised.
Students were admitted on seats exceeding allocated quota
They said that health department had given an undertaking to PMDC that it would not allow colleges to induct more students while the principals of all public sector medical colleges were issued written instructions in that regard. The vice-chancellor of Khyber Medical University has also given undertaking that the students, who were admitted over and above the quota, would not be allowed to take the examinations.
Sources said that such students faced hardships. It was difficult for them to get a job even after graduation, they said. The colleges where extra seats were created received orders from competent authority, they added.
The council will not accept any student in future owing to which government is taking extra care in admission to the existing 10 public sector medical colleges, said Prof Ijaz, the vice-chancellor of KMU.
Prof Ijaz, who is also member of PMDC and chairman of admission committee to state-run medical colleges, said that two colleges were awaiting recognition. We have included Nowshera Medical College and Gaju Khan Medical College, Swabi in the recently conducted entrance tests but subject to the recognition by PMDC, he added.
The government has also ordered the health department to identify the persons, who accepted political pressure and violated rules and caused loss to public exchequer.
Some of the students have graduated while the others are still in colleges. They are worried about their future. The government will allow admissions in colleges only when they are recognised, said Prof Ijaz.
Sources in health department said that government ordered to allow the joint admission committee to select students for the medical and dental colleges and expedite efforts for recognition of the two more medical colleges to give admission to 200 students. Currently the province produces 1,000 doctors in public sector colleges every year. The number would swell to 12,000 when Nowshera and Swabi colleges are recognised, they said.
Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1280862/govt-to-pay-over-rs50m-for-registration-of-medical-students
Water supply scheme for Dera villages inaugurated
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A water supply scheme was inaugurated in Chodhwan area here on Monday, which would benefit 2,525 households of 10 villages.
DI Khan Deputy Commissioner Motasim Billah Shah and Dr Arjumand Nizami, country director, Inter-Cooperation Pakistan, a Swiss NGO, inaugurated the scheme at a ceremony.
The scheme is part of the Water for Livelihoods Project financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It has been executed by Inter-Cooperation in partnership with public health engineering department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and NOGs Veer Development Organisation and Water User Association.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nizami said Inter-Cooperation Pakistan had been working in DI Khan for over 15 years, contributing in livelihood improvement in agriculture, livestock, local economic development, disaster management and water sectors.
He termed availability of clean and safe drinking water as main driver of prosperity in the area.
He asked the line departments to further strengthen linkages with the national and international organisations for similar projects, and urged local representatives to support good initiatives.
Community members expressed jubilation on the completion of the water supply scheme.
They said they had been forced to consume rainwater which was accumulated in ponds meant for animals.
The scheme includes RCC surface reservoir with 50,000 gallon capacity and a main supply line of 37,714 metres and supply network to 10 villages.
The total cost of the scheme is Rs52.3 million with 20 per cent contribution coming from the community.
Munawar Khan Khattak, team leader of the project, said two more similar schemes in DI Khan and Tank were under way which will benefit over 50,000 people.
Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1280852/water-supply-scheme-for-dera-villages-inaugurated
[h=2]Diabetic patients to get free insulin in govt hospitals
SWABI: The diabetic patients would get free insulin under Insulin for Life programme across the province in public sector hospitals, said Senior Provincial Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai.
Addressing a meeting at Bacha Khan Medical Complex Hospital Shahmansoor here on Monday, he said that the system was introduced to facilitate poor patients. Now free insulin to diabetic patients will also be provided in Swabi district, said the minister. The hospitals in Bannu, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Mardan, Abbottabad, Lower Dir, Kohat, Haripur, Mansehra and Nowshera are already such services to patients.
Mr Tarakai said that provision of quality health services to people of the province in public sector hospitals was top priority of the government. He claimed that they had already taken numerous steps in that regard.
We have promised to improve the existing system of healthcare in such a way that it really delivers according to the expectations of the people, said the minister. He added that government would provide all the required facilities and modern equipment to the hospital.
Mr Tarakai alleged that rulers in the past focused only on erecting buildings instead of providing facilities to people.
Earlier, he was told that according to International Diabetes Federation, there were about 6.7 million people with diabetes in the country. It is predicted that by 2035 the number of people with diabetes will be nearly 12.8 million, the minister was told by experts.
The experts said that about 2.2 million people were suffering from diabetes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
ARREST: Police claimed to have arrested a drug smuggler and recovered four kilograms of hashish from him.
They said that policemen stopped a car on Swabi-Jhanda Road and searched its various sections. They recovered four kilograms of hashish from the car and arrested the driver identified as Kashif Ali, a resident of Jamrud.
Meanwhile, police also claimed to have arrested four proclaimed offenders in the district. The arrested persons were identified as Sajid Khan, Alamgir Khan, Shah Hasar, and Javed Khan.
Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1280847/diabetic-patients-to-get-free-insulin-in-govt-hospitals
[/h]
Govt to pay over Rs50m for registration of medical students
PESHAWAR: The provincial government will pay Rs53.212 million to Pakistan Medical and Dental Council to get registered the students, who were admitted to medical and dental colleges on the seats exceeding the allocated quota in academic year 2008-09.
Sources said that chief minister approved the summary, sent to him by health department, on Monday to pay the amount to PMDC and get registered the students, who were given admission when seats were not available in the colleges. The government had enrolled 30 students in dentistry department of Bacha Khan Medical College, which was established in January 2012, sources said.
They said that other medical colleges also admitted more students than the allotted quota and PMDC refused to grant registrations to them. It put the future of students at stake, they said.
Sources said that on the persuasion of PMDC members from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the students were asked to pay Rs57,000 per head to get registered and stand recognised.
Students were admitted on seats exceeding allocated quota
They said that health department had given an undertaking to PMDC that it would not allow colleges to induct more students while the principals of all public sector medical colleges were issued written instructions in that regard. The vice-chancellor of Khyber Medical University has also given undertaking that the students, who were admitted over and above the quota, would not be allowed to take the examinations.
Sources said that such students faced hardships. It was difficult for them to get a job even after graduation, they said. The colleges where extra seats were created received orders from competent authority, they added.
The council will not accept any student in future owing to which government is taking extra care in admission to the existing 10 public sector medical colleges, said Prof Ijaz, the vice-chancellor of KMU.
Prof Ijaz, who is also member of PMDC and chairman of admission committee to state-run medical colleges, said that two colleges were awaiting recognition. We have included Nowshera Medical College and Gaju Khan Medical College, Swabi in the recently conducted entrance tests but subject to the recognition by PMDC, he added.
The government has also ordered the health department to identify the persons, who accepted political pressure and violated rules and caused loss to public exchequer.
Some of the students have graduated while the others are still in colleges. They are worried about their future. The government will allow admissions in colleges only when they are recognised, said Prof Ijaz.
Sources in health department said that government ordered to allow the joint admission committee to select students for the medical and dental colleges and expedite efforts for recognition of the two more medical colleges to give admission to 200 students. Currently the province produces 1,000 doctors in public sector colleges every year. The number would swell to 12,000 when Nowshera and Swabi colleges are recognised, they said.
Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1280862/govt-to-pay-over-rs50m-for-registration-of-medical-students
Water supply scheme for Dera villages inaugurated
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A water supply scheme was inaugurated in Chodhwan area here on Monday, which would benefit 2,525 households of 10 villages.
DI Khan Deputy Commissioner Motasim Billah Shah and Dr Arjumand Nizami, country director, Inter-Cooperation Pakistan, a Swiss NGO, inaugurated the scheme at a ceremony.
The scheme is part of the Water for Livelihoods Project financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It has been executed by Inter-Cooperation in partnership with public health engineering department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and NOGs Veer Development Organisation and Water User Association.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nizami said Inter-Cooperation Pakistan had been working in DI Khan for over 15 years, contributing in livelihood improvement in agriculture, livestock, local economic development, disaster management and water sectors.
He termed availability of clean and safe drinking water as main driver of prosperity in the area.
He asked the line departments to further strengthen linkages with the national and international organisations for similar projects, and urged local representatives to support good initiatives.
Community members expressed jubilation on the completion of the water supply scheme.
They said they had been forced to consume rainwater which was accumulated in ponds meant for animals.
The scheme includes RCC surface reservoir with 50,000 gallon capacity and a main supply line of 37,714 metres and supply network to 10 villages.
The total cost of the scheme is Rs52.3 million with 20 per cent contribution coming from the community.
Munawar Khan Khattak, team leader of the project, said two more similar schemes in DI Khan and Tank were under way which will benefit over 50,000 people.
Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1280852/water-supply-scheme-for-dera-villages-inaugurated
[h=2]Diabetic patients to get free insulin in govt hospitals
SWABI: The diabetic patients would get free insulin under Insulin for Life programme across the province in public sector hospitals, said Senior Provincial Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai.
Addressing a meeting at Bacha Khan Medical Complex Hospital Shahmansoor here on Monday, he said that the system was introduced to facilitate poor patients. Now free insulin to diabetic patients will also be provided in Swabi district, said the minister. The hospitals in Bannu, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Mardan, Abbottabad, Lower Dir, Kohat, Haripur, Mansehra and Nowshera are already such services to patients.
Mr Tarakai said that provision of quality health services to people of the province in public sector hospitals was top priority of the government. He claimed that they had already taken numerous steps in that regard.
We have promised to improve the existing system of healthcare in such a way that it really delivers according to the expectations of the people, said the minister. He added that government would provide all the required facilities and modern equipment to the hospital.
Mr Tarakai alleged that rulers in the past focused only on erecting buildings instead of providing facilities to people.
Earlier, he was told that according to International Diabetes Federation, there were about 6.7 million people with diabetes in the country. It is predicted that by 2035 the number of people with diabetes will be nearly 12.8 million, the minister was told by experts.
The experts said that about 2.2 million people were suffering from diabetes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
ARREST: Police claimed to have arrested a drug smuggler and recovered four kilograms of hashish from him.
They said that policemen stopped a car on Swabi-Jhanda Road and searched its various sections. They recovered four kilograms of hashish from the car and arrested the driver identified as Kashif Ali, a resident of Jamrud.
Meanwhile, police also claimed to have arrested four proclaimed offenders in the district. The arrested persons were identified as Sajid Khan, Alamgir Khan, Shah Hasar, and Javed Khan.
Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1280847/diabetic-patients-to-get-free-insulin-in-govt-hospitals
[/h]
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Civil servants complain of KPECs interference, harassment
PESHAWAR: Civil servants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have unanimously pressed the provincial government for clipping the powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission, complaining about the frequent interference in what they believe the purely administrative affairs and harassment of officials by the accountability body.
Sources told Dawn that the issue came up for discussion during the Aug 29 meeting of the secretaries committee, which was unanimous in their agreement that the recently amended KPEC Act needed to be reviewed on emergency basis.
Earlier in August, the chief Ehtesab commissioner and four commissioners had also written a letter to the chief minister, saying the recent amendments to the KPEC law were driving the law into redundancy.
The KP Assembly had passed the KPEC Amendment Act 2016 on August 3.
Ask govt to reduce accountability bodys powers
The minutes of the secretaries committee meeting available with Dawn show that secretary of the establishment department Humaira Ahmad made a presentation about new amendments to the KPEC Act 2014 explaining reservations of various unions of government employees.
The law secretary opposed appointment of a retired high court judge as the KPEC DG due to lack of investigation-related experience and advocated the commissions oversight over directorate in order to ensure justice.
Peshawars commissioner and finance secretary endorsed his observations.
The information secretary told the meeting that the media trial in the name of the accountability should be avoided, while labour secretary said the KPEC had asked for records of the recent recruitments involving 15,000 applicants and that it reflected the undue interference and lack of trust in the department.
The administration secretary said the KPEC was interfering in purely administrative affairs as well, while Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) pointed out that currently, Ehtesab commissioners were toothless and the DG should be bound to ask their permission before initiation of inquiry, investigation, prosecution and arrest.
The food secretary said the law must have a safeguard provision for civil servants and if the accused was wrongly charged with mala fide intentions, the investigation officer should be punished.
The participants agreed that the recent amendments would result in the increased harassment of civil servants and needed to be reviewed on war footings.
They also agreed that the KPEC DG should be barred from taking cognisance of the matters involving procedural lapses, while the provincial government should also form a scrutiny committee to look into the existing directorates employees to screen out those who do not meet the criteria.
The committee also unanimously agreed that the commission needed to be empowered in order to have an effective check on DG, while the posts of KPEC DG and anti-corruption establishment director should be open to civil servants.
The chair also formed a four members committee comprising secretaries for law, food, aquaf departments and Peshawar commissioner to finalise a report on all actionable points during the course of meetings and also directed the committee to incorporate the views submitted by various provincial services associations regarding new amendments to KPEC Act 2014 as annexure to their final report.
A senior government official requesting anonymity told Dawn that a summary in this regard had been sent to the chief minister on August 31.
He said the hyperactive accountability drive was scaring off officers and if that continued, senior officers got themselves posted out of the province.
The official said if the law was not amended, then it would be very difficult for government servants to work in the province.
He said the charter of demands presented before the secretaries committee was signed by all civil servant unions.
The PCS Officers Association, PAS Association, Treasury Account Association, teachers, paramedics, clerks and class IV associations all signed the charter of demands, he said.
The official said on August 31, the Ehtesab commissioners too met the office-bearers of various civil servants associations to discuss the recently amended law and insisted the recent amendments had made the law redundant.
The KPEC Act 2014 has been at the heart of controversy since the beginning of this year.
On February 9, 2016, the provincial government promulgated KPEC Ordinance 2016, reducing powers of DG.
Retired general Hamid Khan, the first KPEC DG, had quit in protest against the ordinance a day after its promulgation on February 10.
The ordinance was withdrawn on May 2, and another amendment bill was tabled in KP assembly on May 6 which the house passed on August 3.
Meanwhile, a KPEC statement issued here on Wednesday said the recent amendments to the law had strengthened the overall operational activities of the commission.
It said after the legal issues surrounding the commission are over after enactment of the recent law, KPEC had begun full operational activities including arrest of the accused and filing of reference in courts and that several people had been taken into custody during the last few days.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282840/civil-servants-complain-of-kpecs-interference-harassment
Govt plans expansion of LHW programme
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is expanding the lady health worker (LHW) programme to improve the mother and child healthcare system at the grassroots level in the province.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has regularised the services of 13,000 LHWs, who have been working on temporary basis from the past two decades. This will further improve the mother and child health indicators in rural areas, Dr Fahim Hussain Khan, provincial coordinator of the LHW programme, told Dawn.
He said that the provincial government had sanctioned 2,000 new posts of LHWs that would enable them to expand the health coverage from existing 50 per cent to 60 per cent of the population.
The programme started by the federal government in 1994 was devolved to the provinces after the 18th amendment and it focuses on improvement of mother and child health, including immunisation, enhancement of contraceptive prevalence rate and pre- and post-natal checks by women. It has achieved most of its targets due to which the KP government included it in integrated programme to enhance its coverage.
2,000 more posts of LHWs sanctioned to improve mother and child healthcare
In mid-2012, the Supreme Court had ordered regularisation of over 100,000 LHWs in the country and the KP government created 13,000 regular posts to accommodate all the ad hoc employees.
The provincial health department has implemented a three-year programme (2016-18) worth Rs22 billion, which also included nutrition and immunisation to provide comprehensive care to the mothers and children.
Dr Khan said that the provincial health department played an active role in regularisation of staff under which the LHWs would get BPS-5 and Lady Health Supervisors BPS-7 to improve primary healthcare, with focus on preventive and promotional healthcare at the primary level and reducing burden of diseases.
According to rules, LHWs are appointed in their own communities and can be transferred to another area which is not covered with a view to ensure that they visit households in their neighbourhoods and give advice and medicines to the women about the status of their pregnancies and immunisation of the mothers and children.
One LHW is required to cover 150 households or 1,000 population at the community level and refer the people for vaccination and other health needs to the healthcare centres besides giving them health education on personal hygiene and seasonal diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, etc. They are also required to ensure that TB patients complete their treatment regimes and help them in getting free medicines and adopting measures to prevent its spread.
The LHWs are trained to give guidance with regard to treatment of minor ailments relating to eye, chest, etc and refer those with major health problems to the nearby hospitals for proper management.
Dr Shaida Hussain, who heads the Peshawar districts LHW programme, said that health indicators with regard to mother and child had shown marked improvement over the last five years. The vaccination rate in Peshawar is over 95 per cent in 32 per cent of the LHWs-covered areas, he said. Now the coverage will increase to about 37 per cent as we are appointing 353 more LHWs in addition to 858 already working here, he said.
Gradually, Peshawar will get a total of 2,576 LHWs to cover 3.5million target population in the provincial capital, he said. Promotion of breastfeeding, encouraging women to visit hospitals from pregnancy to post delivery and increase in skilled birth attendants (SBAs) are among objectives of the programme, he said.
He said that in Peshawar over 80 per cent deliveries took place under the supervision of SBAs. He said that LHWs covered 80 per cent of the population in rural parts of Peshawar while the health department was taking care of the remaining 20 per cent.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282839/govt-plans-expansion-of-lhw-programme
Three 56MW hydel projects near completion
PESHAWAR: Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) Chairman Sahibzada Saeed Ahmed has said three hydropower projects having generation capacity of 56 megawatt will be completed during the current year.
These hydel projects will be proved not only a profitable source of income for the province but also help control energy crisis, he stated while speaking at the 14th Board of Directors meeting of Pedo here on Wednesday, according to a statement.
He said about 100 mini micro hydel projects had been completed in the backward areas wherein people were deprived of electricity.
The meeting was informed that the hydropower projects namely Machai, Ranolia and Daral Khwar would start power generation during the current year.
The meeting discussed the financial and management affairs of the department and reviewed the pace of work on various ongoing hydropower projects. It also approved the annual budget for Pedo.
The participants also placed their suggestion for speedy works on projects.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282739/three-56mw-hydel-projects-near-completion
As usual - Speedy Justice to Criminals in KP By PHC
Ex-DG minerals granted bail in illegal mining case
PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Wednesday granted bail to an ex-director general of mines and mineral department, Dr Liaqat Ali, arrested last year by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) on charges of misuse of authority by facilitating illegal mining.
The bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Ms Mussarat Hilali allowed a writ petition filed by Dr Liaqat seeking his release on bail in four references filed against him. The court directed the petitioner to furnish two sureties of Rs2 million each.
The petitioner was arrested last year following which the then provincial minister for mines and minerals, Ziaullah Afridi, was also arrested. Mr Afridi, an MPA of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, has still been behind the bars.
Advocate Shumail Ahmad Butt appeared for the petitioner and argued that his client had remained the director general of mines and minerals department for only four months when he was arrested by KPEC on Jun 17, 2015. He stated that four references had been filed against the petitioner, adding in the references the commission had mentioned around 100 persons as witnesses.
The counsel stated that the petitioner, who is an academician, had taken charge of the post of director general on the request of the provincial government.
Mr Butt contended that despite passage of around 15 months since his arrest no charge had been framed against him and statement of not a single witness had been recorded. He added that there was no possibility of completion of his trial in near future.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282738/ex-dg-minerals-granted-bail-in-illegal-mining-case
PESHAWAR: Civil servants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have unanimously pressed the provincial government for clipping the powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission, complaining about the frequent interference in what they believe the purely administrative affairs and harassment of officials by the accountability body.
Sources told Dawn that the issue came up for discussion during the Aug 29 meeting of the secretaries committee, which was unanimous in their agreement that the recently amended KPEC Act needed to be reviewed on emergency basis.
Earlier in August, the chief Ehtesab commissioner and four commissioners had also written a letter to the chief minister, saying the recent amendments to the KPEC law were driving the law into redundancy.
The KP Assembly had passed the KPEC Amendment Act 2016 on August 3.
Ask govt to reduce accountability bodys powers
The minutes of the secretaries committee meeting available with Dawn show that secretary of the establishment department Humaira Ahmad made a presentation about new amendments to the KPEC Act 2014 explaining reservations of various unions of government employees.
The law secretary opposed appointment of a retired high court judge as the KPEC DG due to lack of investigation-related experience and advocated the commissions oversight over directorate in order to ensure justice.
Peshawars commissioner and finance secretary endorsed his observations.
The information secretary told the meeting that the media trial in the name of the accountability should be avoided, while labour secretary said the KPEC had asked for records of the recent recruitments involving 15,000 applicants and that it reflected the undue interference and lack of trust in the department.
The administration secretary said the KPEC was interfering in purely administrative affairs as well, while Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) pointed out that currently, Ehtesab commissioners were toothless and the DG should be bound to ask their permission before initiation of inquiry, investigation, prosecution and arrest.
The food secretary said the law must have a safeguard provision for civil servants and if the accused was wrongly charged with mala fide intentions, the investigation officer should be punished.
The participants agreed that the recent amendments would result in the increased harassment of civil servants and needed to be reviewed on war footings.
They also agreed that the KPEC DG should be barred from taking cognisance of the matters involving procedural lapses, while the provincial government should also form a scrutiny committee to look into the existing directorates employees to screen out those who do not meet the criteria.
The committee also unanimously agreed that the commission needed to be empowered in order to have an effective check on DG, while the posts of KPEC DG and anti-corruption establishment director should be open to civil servants.
The chair also formed a four members committee comprising secretaries for law, food, aquaf departments and Peshawar commissioner to finalise a report on all actionable points during the course of meetings and also directed the committee to incorporate the views submitted by various provincial services associations regarding new amendments to KPEC Act 2014 as annexure to their final report.
A senior government official requesting anonymity told Dawn that a summary in this regard had been sent to the chief minister on August 31.
He said the hyperactive accountability drive was scaring off officers and if that continued, senior officers got themselves posted out of the province.
The official said if the law was not amended, then it would be very difficult for government servants to work in the province.
He said the charter of demands presented before the secretaries committee was signed by all civil servant unions.
The PCS Officers Association, PAS Association, Treasury Account Association, teachers, paramedics, clerks and class IV associations all signed the charter of demands, he said.
The official said on August 31, the Ehtesab commissioners too met the office-bearers of various civil servants associations to discuss the recently amended law and insisted the recent amendments had made the law redundant.
The KPEC Act 2014 has been at the heart of controversy since the beginning of this year.
On February 9, 2016, the provincial government promulgated KPEC Ordinance 2016, reducing powers of DG.
Retired general Hamid Khan, the first KPEC DG, had quit in protest against the ordinance a day after its promulgation on February 10.
The ordinance was withdrawn on May 2, and another amendment bill was tabled in KP assembly on May 6 which the house passed on August 3.
Meanwhile, a KPEC statement issued here on Wednesday said the recent amendments to the law had strengthened the overall operational activities of the commission.
It said after the legal issues surrounding the commission are over after enactment of the recent law, KPEC had begun full operational activities including arrest of the accused and filing of reference in courts and that several people had been taken into custody during the last few days.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282840/civil-servants-complain-of-kpecs-interference-harassment
Govt plans expansion of LHW programme
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is expanding the lady health worker (LHW) programme to improve the mother and child healthcare system at the grassroots level in the province.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has regularised the services of 13,000 LHWs, who have been working on temporary basis from the past two decades. This will further improve the mother and child health indicators in rural areas, Dr Fahim Hussain Khan, provincial coordinator of the LHW programme, told Dawn.
He said that the provincial government had sanctioned 2,000 new posts of LHWs that would enable them to expand the health coverage from existing 50 per cent to 60 per cent of the population.
The programme started by the federal government in 1994 was devolved to the provinces after the 18th amendment and it focuses on improvement of mother and child health, including immunisation, enhancement of contraceptive prevalence rate and pre- and post-natal checks by women. It has achieved most of its targets due to which the KP government included it in integrated programme to enhance its coverage.
2,000 more posts of LHWs sanctioned to improve mother and child healthcare
In mid-2012, the Supreme Court had ordered regularisation of over 100,000 LHWs in the country and the KP government created 13,000 regular posts to accommodate all the ad hoc employees.
The provincial health department has implemented a three-year programme (2016-18) worth Rs22 billion, which also included nutrition and immunisation to provide comprehensive care to the mothers and children.
Dr Khan said that the provincial health department played an active role in regularisation of staff under which the LHWs would get BPS-5 and Lady Health Supervisors BPS-7 to improve primary healthcare, with focus on preventive and promotional healthcare at the primary level and reducing burden of diseases.
According to rules, LHWs are appointed in their own communities and can be transferred to another area which is not covered with a view to ensure that they visit households in their neighbourhoods and give advice and medicines to the women about the status of their pregnancies and immunisation of the mothers and children.
One LHW is required to cover 150 households or 1,000 population at the community level and refer the people for vaccination and other health needs to the healthcare centres besides giving them health education on personal hygiene and seasonal diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, etc. They are also required to ensure that TB patients complete their treatment regimes and help them in getting free medicines and adopting measures to prevent its spread.
The LHWs are trained to give guidance with regard to treatment of minor ailments relating to eye, chest, etc and refer those with major health problems to the nearby hospitals for proper management.
Dr Shaida Hussain, who heads the Peshawar districts LHW programme, said that health indicators with regard to mother and child had shown marked improvement over the last five years. The vaccination rate in Peshawar is over 95 per cent in 32 per cent of the LHWs-covered areas, he said. Now the coverage will increase to about 37 per cent as we are appointing 353 more LHWs in addition to 858 already working here, he said.
Gradually, Peshawar will get a total of 2,576 LHWs to cover 3.5million target population in the provincial capital, he said. Promotion of breastfeeding, encouraging women to visit hospitals from pregnancy to post delivery and increase in skilled birth attendants (SBAs) are among objectives of the programme, he said.
He said that in Peshawar over 80 per cent deliveries took place under the supervision of SBAs. He said that LHWs covered 80 per cent of the population in rural parts of Peshawar while the health department was taking care of the remaining 20 per cent.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282839/govt-plans-expansion-of-lhw-programme
Three 56MW hydel projects near completion
PESHAWAR: Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) Chairman Sahibzada Saeed Ahmed has said three hydropower projects having generation capacity of 56 megawatt will be completed during the current year.
These hydel projects will be proved not only a profitable source of income for the province but also help control energy crisis, he stated while speaking at the 14th Board of Directors meeting of Pedo here on Wednesday, according to a statement.
He said about 100 mini micro hydel projects had been completed in the backward areas wherein people were deprived of electricity.
The meeting was informed that the hydropower projects namely Machai, Ranolia and Daral Khwar would start power generation during the current year.
The meeting discussed the financial and management affairs of the department and reviewed the pace of work on various ongoing hydropower projects. It also approved the annual budget for Pedo.
The participants also placed their suggestion for speedy works on projects.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282739/three-56mw-hydel-projects-near-completion
As usual - Speedy Justice to Criminals in KP By PHC
Ex-DG minerals granted bail in illegal mining case
PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Wednesday granted bail to an ex-director general of mines and mineral department, Dr Liaqat Ali, arrested last year by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) on charges of misuse of authority by facilitating illegal mining.
The bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Ms Mussarat Hilali allowed a writ petition filed by Dr Liaqat seeking his release on bail in four references filed against him. The court directed the petitioner to furnish two sureties of Rs2 million each.
The petitioner was arrested last year following which the then provincial minister for mines and minerals, Ziaullah Afridi, was also arrested. Mr Afridi, an MPA of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, has still been behind the bars.
Advocate Shumail Ahmad Butt appeared for the petitioner and argued that his client had remained the director general of mines and minerals department for only four months when he was arrested by KPEC on Jun 17, 2015. He stated that four references had been filed against the petitioner, adding in the references the commission had mentioned around 100 persons as witnesses.
The counsel stated that the petitioner, who is an academician, had taken charge of the post of director general on the request of the provincial government.
Mr Butt contended that despite passage of around 15 months since his arrest no charge had been framed against him and statement of not a single witness had been recorded. He added that there was no possibility of completion of his trial in near future.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1282738/ex-dg-minerals-granted-bail-in-illegal-mining-case
