PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government on Thursday approved the extension of the monthly stipend programme for girl students of grade VI-XII in tribal districts until 2025.

Scholarships will be provided to 32,833 girl students from the erstwhile Fata in 2023, 37,758 in 2024 and 43,422 in 2025 at the estimated cost of Rs940.5 million, read an official statement issued after the cabinet’s meeting here.

The cabinet also approved a proposal to link the scholarship disbursement with the student performance, examination results and the minimum attendance of 70 per cent.

Caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah chaired the meeting, which was attended by the cabinet members, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, administrative secretaries, and other relevant officials of the province.

Okays DEO posts for Lower South Waziristan district

The cabinet also approved the allotment of two kanals of land in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber tribal district for building offices and residential structures of the federal government institutions, according to the official statement.

“In a move towards social welfare, the cabinet sanctioned the establishment of a welfare fund for prisoners and prison employees, with a focus on skill development,” it read.

The statement added that 30 per cent of the income generated from products made in jails would be allocated for inmates enabling them to acquire skills and achieve financial independence on release.’

“The fund established from the prisoners and prison employees’ contributions, incurs no cost to the government,” the statement read.

The cabinet also approved the nominations from Peshawar, Mardan and Dera Ismail Khan districts to represent farmers on the Cane and Sugar Beet Control Board.

Names for the board of directors of the Water and Sanitation Services Company Peshawar were approved, according to the statement.

It added that the cabinet granted post-facto approval to the department of Auqaf and religious affairs and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority for emergency aid provided to the victims of the Jaranwala violence in Sept 2023.

The participants honoured the memory of Pakistan Army official Uzair Afsar by naming the Government Higher Secondary School in Pind Hashim Khan area of Haripur district after the fallen hero.

The cabinet acknowledged the “evolving administrative landscape” in the province and approved the creation of the district education officer’s positions for both men and women in the newly-established Lower South Waziristan tribal district.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2023