PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Saturday approved the establishment of the KP Witness Protection Board, along with two units, under the Witness Protection Act, 2021.

The cabinet met with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in the chair and provincial ministers and administrative secretaries in attendance.

In a statement issued here, provincial information minister Shafi Jan said the Witness Protection Board would frame policy guidelines, oversee and monitor their implementation, and supervise the performance of the units.

He said that the legislation was enacted by the provincial government to protect witnesses and other individuals connected with sensitive criminal proceedings, including the investigation, prosecution and trial of offences such as terrorism.

Gives go ahead to take Galiyat-Murree water distribution issue to CCI

The minister said that under Sections 3 and 5, read with Rule 3 of the rules notified under the Act, the provincial government was required to establish the Witness Protection Board and units I and II.

He also said that the cabinet approved the signing of a fresh government-to-government contract agreement, along with revised rates, for the printing and supply of vehicle registration documents, including polycarbonate smart cards, registration booklets and adhesive stickers, under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965.

The cabinet also granted two-month special remission to eligible convicted prisoners in a case under consideration, with a formal notification to be issued thereafter in accordance with the applicable rules and past practice.

The minister said a matter concerning the water distribution and supply mechanism between Galiyat and Murree, including rates, arrears and volume of supply, was presented before the cabinet, along with a proposal to raise the matter before the Council of Common Interest.

The cabinet approved referring the matter to the next meeting of the CCI for resolution.

Mr Jan said that the cabinet approved the submission of the annual report of the KP Provincial Ombudsman’s Office for the calendar year 2025 to the provincial assembly.

CM Afridi told the cabinet that continued increase in petroleum prices by the federal government was deeply regrettable, placing an additional burden on already struggling low-income households.

He said that on one hand, petroleum prices were being repeatedly increased and on the other, the country was being run by the federal government through additional debts and continued borrowing.

Mr Afridi said Pakistan’s debt had reached Rs43 trillion over 74 years, whereas the present government had increased it to Rs97 trillion within five years.

“They have added more debt to Pakistan in five years than was accumulated over the previous 74 years,” he said, adding that the resulting burden will ultimately be borne by the poor.

The chief minister condemned the recent statement by his Punjab counterpart, saying that placing personal interests above national interests had been their established practice.

He said Maryam Nawaz’s statement was not merely against a particular province but ran contrary to the national narrative of the State.

“Such statements provide space and international traction to India’s anti-Pakistan narrative,” he said.

Mr Afridi also flayed statements by some federal ministers against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said there was growing concern among the people and government of the province about “what is being planned” for their province and whether the province is considered an integral part of the country.

“On one hand, a director general of a state institution is releasing videos and holding press conferences against the chief executive of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and on the other, a judge is passing comments. Do they want to divide Pakistan or where do they want to take Pakistan?”

The chief minister said Pakistan belonged to all its provinces and citizens.

He warned a discriminatory attitude towards smaller provinces would deepen mistrust and fuel resentment, which was neither in the interest of the country nor of its institutions.

Mr Afridi also expressed concern over “continued interference by individuals outside the relevant government and departmental structures”, who, he said, are attempting to intimidate and pressure government officers.

Referring to his previous experience, he said that while serving as the chief minister’s special assistant, he had cancelled certain contracts relating to NLC C&W projects on account of poor performance and delivery failure.

Regarding projects funded by the Asian Development Bank, the chief minister said a comprehensive scrutiny process had been undertaken and only companies meeting the required merit criteria and possessing complete documentation had qualified.

He added that companies with incomplete documentation, fraudulent bank guarantees or those seeking qualification through recommendations had been disqualified.

“I have no objection to any company receiving a contract if it meets the requirements on merit and through a transparent process but attempts to secure contracts through improper means will not be allowed to succeed,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2026