PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Monday approved release of an amount of over Rs5 billion for the internally displaced persons of Tirah area in Khyber tribal district.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and attended by the ministers, chief secretary and administrative secretaries.

Information minister Shafi Jan told reporters here that the cabinet approved the release of additional funds amounting to Rs5.499 billion to provide compensation to 6,900 additional verified internally displaced families from Tirah.

He said that the approved funds would also cover the payment of the monthly food support allowance to eligible families in accordance with their prescribed entitlements.

Okays law amendments to strengthen Health Care Commission; establishment of medical college in Khyber

According to him, the cabinet also approved an amendment to Schedule-IV of the KP Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Rules, 2021, granting a complete waiver of all prescribed fees for obtaining letters of administration and succession certificates by the legal heirs of martyrs.

“The exemption will apply to the families of martyrs of the Armed Forces, Police, and Paramilitary Forces, as well as civil servants who embraced martyrdom while performing official duties and civilians martyred in armed conflict or terrorist incidents.”

Mr Jan said that the cabinet also approved the formation of the Debt Management Committee under Section 11(4) of the KP Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Management Act, 2022, to formulate policies for the effective functioning of the Debt Management Unit in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

He said the KP Public Resources for Inclusive Development Programme was also approved with a financing envelope of $200 million.

The programme will introduce reforms in revenue mobilisation, improve the efficiency and prioritisation of public expenditures and strengthen the province’s fiscal and service delivery data ecosystem, according to him.

Also, the cabinet approved the allocation of Rs30 million for engaging the services of a law firm or private legal counsel to pursue the province’s case relating to the National Finance Commission before the competent constitutional forum.

The minister said the cabinet, recognising that the matter involves a continuous and long-term legal process, authorised the finance department to independently select and engage law firms or private legal counsel, as and when required, and process all contractual obligations at the departmental level to ensure timely action and avoid procedural delays.

He said the decision was meant to strengthen the province’s legal efforts to secure its constitutional and financial rights under the NFC Award through all available legal avenues.

The cabinet approved a set of amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Care Commission Act, 2015, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the legislation and strengthening the institutional role of the Health Care Commission. The proposed amendments are intended to improve the Commission’s regulatory framework, enabling it to more effectively oversee healthcare standards and ensure the delivery of quality health services across the province.

It also approved the establishment of a medical college in the existing building of the Regional Professional Development Centre (Male) in Jamrud area of Khyber tribal district.

The minister said the cabinet, on the recommendations of its standing committee, approved the extension of the Revised Shuhada Package, 2025, currently admissible to police personnel, to the personnel of the Narcotics Control Wing of the excise, taxation and narcotics control department.

He said the package would become applicable upon the formal notification of the Narcotics Control Wing as a uniformed force.

“The decision aims to ensure that personnel serving in frontline narcotics enforcement receive the same welfare and compensation benefits as other uniformed law enforcement personnel in recognition of the risks associated with their duties.”

Mr Jan said the cabinet directed the law, excise, agriculture and finance departments to jointly examine and submit proposals on alternative levy mechanisms, including the imposition of an agricultural cess or the introduction of an appropriate regulatory framework, consistent with the province’s legislative competence, for the government’s consideration.

He said that the forum also approved a mechanism for the purity testing and valuation of gold recovered by NAB in the Kohistan financial scandal through a registered assayer.

The minister said that while implementing the previously approved framework for the receipt, custody, valuation and disposal of Kohistan scandal assets, it became necessary to determine the precise operational procedure followed by the Federal authorities for handling recovered material described as “said to be gold” prior to its monetisation.

He said the administration department initiated consultations with the State Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan Mint, Lahore, to ensure that the valuation and disposal process is carried out in accordance with established standards and procedures.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi told the cabinet that he had reviewed the complaints received through the Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell about the recent recruitment of 2,400 doctors.

He said that every citizen had the right to have their concerns heard and that it was the government’s responsibility to address genuine grievances while ensuring that all applicants are provided a fair and transparent explanation of the recruitment process.

Mr Afridi noted that the majority of complaints related to administrative matters, including the correction of applicants’ mobile numbers, names and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council registration details.

According to him, around 21 complaints pertained to merit. Following a comprehensive review, the recruitment process was found to be compliant with the prescribed criteria though some applicants were not fully aware of the applicable eligibility and selection framework.

The chief minister announced that the Complaint Cell would continue to receive representations from candidates who might have been unable to submit their grievances within the prescribed timeframe.

He encouraged any applicant possessing credible evidence of unfair treatment to approach the government, assuring that every complaint would be examined impartially and on merit.

Mr Afridi said that if any genuine case of injustice was established, the relevant candidate would be appropriately accommodated even after completion of the ongoing recruitment process.

He said the province continued to face a shortage of medical professionals and that no deserving candidate should be overlooked.

The chief minister directed the health department to expedite the deployment of the newly recruited doctors to ensure improved healthcare services are delivered to the people without delay.

He said in line with the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan, the provincial government was firmly committed to transparency, merit and a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.

“All decisions of the government will continue to be guided by these fundamental principles,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2026