KP Cabinet approves Minerals Development & Management Company Bill

PESHAWAR: Provincial cabinet has approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minerals Development and Management Company Bill 2025. The cabinet also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Testing and Evaluation Agency Bill 2025.

Briefing on decisions of the 46th meeting of the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, said that the cabinet approved several important measures aimed at public welfare. These included the introduction of artificial intelligence education in schools, promotion of positive youth activities, improvement of judicial infrastructure, prison reforms, legislative initiatives, and approval of funds for development schemes and relief activities. He said that the cabinet approved Rs 2,684 million for improving facilities in prisons and strengthening security arrangements. The allocated funds will be utilized to address the shortage of basic facilities in various prisons and for the procurement of modern security equipment, Shafi Jan said.

According to the Special Assistant, the latter bill will provide a formal legal framework to the Minerals Development and Management Company operating in the province.

The meeting approved a Rs 32 million grant-in-aid for the construction of science and computer laboratories at the Atfal Academy, Wana. In addition, Rs 28 million was approved as cash awards to encourage athletes who secured medals in the 35th National Games.

According to him, the cabinet approved the transfer of government land to the Sports Department for the establishment of a Jawan Markaz in District Karak. It also approved the provision of land for the establishment of a Shamshan Ghat for the Hindu and Sikh communities in Dera Ismail Khan.

For the rehabilitation of people affected by the August 2025 floods, the cabinet, he said, approved a relief package worth Rs 1,136 million. The meeting also approved the provision of vehicles for eight mobile service units of the Population Department in the merged districts, along with the purchase of a bus for the Regional Training Institute (South).

Shafi Jan said that under the FATA University Project, the cabinet approved the establishment of a Mines and Minerals Value Addition Hub at a cost of Rs 2,500 million. Furthermore, Rs 300 million was approved under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation Scholarship Endowment Fund for students from the merged districts. The cabinet approved the allocation of two kanals of land for the establishment of a NADRA office in Kohat and sanctioned an increase in the cost of a development scheme of the Kohat Institute of Medical Sciences.

For the improvement of the justice system, the cabinet approved Rs 298 million for judicial infrastructure projects. It also approved the inclusion of artificial intelligence courses in the computer science curriculum for students from Grade six to Grade 12.

The cabinet further approved the draft Memorandum of Understanding to declare Peshawar and New York as sister cities, a move expected to promote cooperation in cultural, trade, economic, educational, and governance sectors.

The cabinet also approved the provision of 198 kanals of land for the establishment of two new graveyards in Peshawar.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026