PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired the 50th meeting of the provincial cabinet, conducted entirely via video link in accordance with the provincial government’s austerity policy.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information, Shafi Jan, detailed the decisions following the consideration of a 28-point agenda and a four-point additional agenda, highlighting the approval of the University of Applied and Modern Sciences for merged districts and the formation of a committee to finalise its establishment.
Under the provincial austerity policy, the cabinet approved the elimination of 55 vacant support staff posts at the Agricultural University to save Rs. 9 million monthly and agreed in principle to a voluntary two-day basic salary deduction for officers of grade 20 and above.
The meeting was informed of a 60 per cent cumulative cut in POL for government vehicles. Further approvals included the posting transfer guidelines for the higher education sector to address staff shortages in remote areas and a pilot project introducing Matric Tech and Inter Tech programs in 70 schools for Rs. 450 million, providing scholarships to 1,650 students.
In the healthcare sector, the cabinet approved a Rs. 993 million grant to make Timergara Medical College functional, granted MTI status to Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, and authorised the creation of 598 paid intern nurse posts.
Financial assistance was allocated for 27 deserving patients and a Rs. 10 million grant for the Fatmeed Foundation, alongside the appointment of seven new non-official members to the Healthcare Commission. For regional relief and infrastructure, the cabinet approved Rs. 20 million for displaced families in Lower Chitral, Rs. 785 million for monsoon relief equipment, and the withdrawal of the Madain Hydropower Station project from the World Bank program to pursue other viable options.
Additional administrative decisions included the appointment of staff under market-based salaries for the Chief Secretary’s Office, the use of digital platforms for electricity fee payments, and amendments to the Mineral Labour Welfare Act.
The cabinet also approved the Budget Strategy Paper 2026-27, a grant-in-aid of Rs. 229 million for the Auqaf Department, and financial support for wheelchair cricket players and the National Bodybuilding Championship in Peshawar.
