PESHAWAR: The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa approved a draft of legislation for establishment of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority in the province.
The draft bill is called the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority Bill, 2026.
The approval was granted during the 56th meeting of the provincial cabinet held with Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi in the chair.
Besides, provincial ministers, advisors and special assistants, the administrative secretaries of the provincial departments also attended the meeting.
Upon enactment of the bill the provincial government will establish an independent and autonomous authority headed by a chief executive officer (CEO) —either a civil servant of BPS-19 or above or a private-sector professional.
The authority will feature a two-tier approval mechanism comprising an apex body and an executive committee, a dedicated project appraisal wing, regional and divisional-level PPP contracting authorities, representation of political, official and private-sector experts, a dedicated fund, and provisions for direct engagement with market players.
The government has also approved an enhancement in the cost of Ehsaas Naujawan Programme from Rs3 billion to Rs5 billion.
The programme, a flagship initiative of the provincial government, aims to promote youth entrepreneurship, self-employment, financial inclusion and sustainable livelihood opportunities across the province.
The provincial cabinet also approved the schedule and modalities for the observance of Ashra Rehmat-ul-Lil-Alameen (PBUH) to be held from the 1st to the 12th ofRabi-ul-Awwal.
Separately, the cabinet approved Rs188.756 million as a one-time, non-recurring grant-in-aid for the current financial year to model schools located in merged districts.
The beneficiary institutions include Mamad Gat Model School (Mohmand), Wana ModelSchool (South Waziristan), Zam Model School (South Waziristan, Tank), Ghallanai Model School (Mohmand), Sadda Model School (Kurram) and Miranshah Model School (North Waziristan).
It also approved a grant-in-aid of Rs60 million for Langland School &College, Chitral.
In a significant reform of the education sector, the Cabinet approved a semester-wise, jacketed textbook system from KG to Class V, to be implemented from the academic year 2027–28, with grades VI through VIII to follow there after. It has further approved the provision of 100 percent free textbooks to students of Class IXto XII.
Elementary & Secondary Education Department has introduced several reforms intended to ensure affordable, quality and sustainable textbook provision across the province. The jacketed textbook model, proposed by the KP Textbook Board, is designed to address the School Bag Weight Policy and reduce the curricular burden on students by binding two or more core-subject textbooks into a single cover, without altering approved content.
The Cabinet also approved financial assistance for the medical treatment of 21deserving patients, at a total financial implication of Rs66.56 million. The measure is intended to facilitate timely treatment and provide relief to financially distressed families.
The Chief Minister directed that the approved funds be disbursed to the affected families without delay.
The Cabinet also approved the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Transmission and Grid System Company.
The Cabinet approved social compensation for land disturbance in connection with the resolution of right-of-way issues under the 132/220 kV Double Circuit Gorkin Matiltan Transmission Line (GMTL), a flagship scheme of the provincial government.
The Cabinet approved enhanced compensation, in relaxation of existing policy, for civilian victims of targeted militant action in District Bajaur— Rs10 million for the legal heirs of the deceased, and Rs2.5 million for victims of major or minor injuries.
In addition, the Cabinet approved a general increase in the standard compensation package for such cases, raising compensation for legal heirs of the deceased from Rs1million to Rs5 million, and for victims of major injuries to Rs1.5 million.
The Cabinet approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Teachers (Appointment and Regularization of Services) Bill, 2026, providing for the regularization of services of remaining teachers appointed on an adhoc basis in the Elementary and Secondary Education Department.
The Cabinet approved two draft notifications granting exemption from sales tax on services for local service providers, and exemption from the withholding sales tax obligation for industrial undertakings established or operating in the erstwhile FATA/PATA regions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments