PESHAWAR: The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to conduct Medical & Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) through the Educational Testing & Evaluation Agency (ETEA) starting from 2027.
A committee has been formed to examine the technical and legal aspects of the transition.
The decision was taken during the 57th meeting of the provincial cabinet held herewith Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi in the chair. Besides, provincial ministers, administrative secretaries of the provincial departments also attended the meeting.
The provincial cabinet approved the establishment of a new Tehsil in Charsadda district to be named “Umarzai” while a committee comprising representatives of the Boardof Revenue, Local Government, Planning & Development, and Finance departments was constituted to formulate criteria governing future changes to administrative units -including divisions, sub-divisions, tehsils, and sub-tehsils - ensuring that such changes are made strictly in line with public interest and administrative need.
The cabinet approved a Transport Monetization Policy for Judicial Officers and gave approval for forwarding Joint Resolution No. 240 of the Provincial Assembly to the Federal Government. The Annual Report of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authorityfor Financial Year 2024–25 was also presented and approved during the meeting.
Regarding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Flood Resilience Project, the Cabinet permitted the relevant department to approach the World Bank for financing in accordance with Islamic banking principles. Additionally, the Cabinet approved a sum of Rs1 billion for the rehabilitation of flood-affected infrastructure, including Rs500 million earmarked specifically for districts of Chitral.
The cabinet approved, as a special case, the enhancement of the compensation package for Shaheed Maulana Mirza Jan of Wana to Rs10 million. It also constituted acabinet committee to develop proposals for the universal registration of tri-wheelers acrossKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with an effective mechanism to mitigate the burden of unregulated tri-wheeler traffic in urban areas.
The cabinet allowed the Annual Report 2025 of the Election Commission of Pakistan to be laid before the Provincial Assembly.
Approval was also granted for the Local Government and Rural Development Department to convey the provincial government’s consent to federal government for signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the area of local development.
The cabinet approved appointments to two vacant posts of commissioner in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Public Services Commission.
The cabinet approved the creation of 46 contract-basis posts for service delivery centers in Lakki Marwat, Tank, Buner, Karak, Battagram, Charsadda and Abbottabad.
Agrant of Rs5 million was also approved for the District Bar Association, Khyber.
In the health sector, the cabinet approved the rationalization and redeployment offull body scanners across various hospitals. It also allowed the transfer of previously approved financial assistance to the personal bank accounts of three applicants, in place ofhospital accounts, subject to verification, and approved the provision of funds for eye care equipment at the District Headquarters Hospital, MTI Bannu.
The cabinet approved bridge financing for the remaining construction work of the Khyber Institute of Child Health (KICH).
The cabinet also approved a working procedure allowing the Forest Department to dispose of the remaining balance of timber - harvested under the now-defunct Dry Standing and Wind Fallen Trees Policy - in a transparent manner.
The cabinet approved the nomination of two educationist members to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority.
It also approved the provision of additional funds to cover enhanced customs duties, taxes, and import charges for the procurement of 54 additional buses for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, as well as funding for three sporting disciplines –archery, judo, and volleyball – for the 14thSouth Asian Games to be held in Peshawar.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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