Amid a crackdown on wheat transportation in Punjab, prices of wheat and flour have skyrocketed, leaving consumers in the lurch. Images: Express/FILE
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, approved the procurement of 175,000 metric tonnes of wheat, with an estimated cost of over Rs 19 billion.
This initiative is part of a wider effort to ensure stable supplies and mitigate price fluctuations of essential raw materials. In addition, the Cabinet sanctioned the deregulation of sugar to promote a more transparent and stable supply chain nationwide.
An important highlight of the meeting was the approval of an enhanced Ramazan relief package for over one million deserving families. As announced by the Special Assistant to the Information Minister, Shafi Jan, more than 10 lakh poor households will receive Rs12,500 per family directly through digital payments during the holy month. Priority will be given to the destitute, widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, transgender persons and those affected by natural disasters.
Public and semi-public employees will not be eligible for this assistance.
The cabinet also allocated additional funds to families of law enforcement martyrs, approving Rs496 million as an additional grant to the heirs of 190 martyrs under the Shuhada package. Financial assistance was sanctioned to poor patients suffering from complex and expensive diseases.
In the area of social welfare and minority rights, the cabinet approved the reconstitution of the Koran Board with the appointment of 19 members for a three-year term.
It approved the National Commission for the Appointments of Members of Minorities, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Kalash Marriage Act and the Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Act to protect the rights of minorities.
A forward-looking step was the approval of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Women Empowerment Policy 2026-2030, which outlines six core objectives: increase women’s participation in economic activities and employment; ensuring access to social services and human development; promote active roles in political and social leadership; provision of legal protection and justice; enabling digital inclusion; and protection of women during climate change and disasters.
Education received a boost with decisions to reactivate 325 non-functional computer/IT labs in higher secondary schools and provide internet connectivity to 958 schools. This aims to strengthen information technology integration and AI-related education initiatives. The Cabinet also approved cost improvements for the Tele-Education Pilot Project in 175 schools.
