KP chief minister condemns prison conditions, pushes for economic rights, approves education grants
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREEN GRAB
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, while addressing the 42nd provincial cabinet meeting, strongly condemned the “unjust imprisonment and continued isolation” of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
He criticized the lack of basic necessities in the prison during the harsh winter and termed the use of water cannons on Imran Khan’s sisters as “deeply shameful”, declaring that the provincial government “strongly condemns this unjust and inhumane treatment.”
During the session, Chief Minister Afridi informed the cabinet about the formation of a sub-committee during the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting to protect the financial rights of the province. The committee, chaired by the provincial finance adviser, will present recommendations to the forum.
He stressed that all political and legal avenues would be explored to secure the province’s due funds. In particular, he highlighted that the merged districts were promised Rs100 billion annually for development, yet only Rs168 billion had been provided over seven years, leaving Rs532 billion outstanding.
Addressing newly appointed secretaries, the Chief Minister emphasized merit-based appointments, transparency and zero tolerance for corruption. He directed all departments to submit proposals for the 2026-27 Annual Development Program (ADP) by mid-February, with priority given to public welfare projects.
The cabinet approved the e-transfer policy 2025 for teachers under the department of primary and secondary education. Afridi said the policy, inspired by PTI founder Imran Khan’s vision, aims to ensure transparency and merit in teacher postings while allowing educators to focus on teaching.
The policy incorporates factors such as seniority, student-faculty ratio, annual performance and special circumstances such as disability, widowhood or spousal deployment. Despite a previous ban on transfers, over 400 recommendations were received, none of which were accepted.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, said the cabinet also approved over Rs2 billion to complete Good Governance Roadmap interventions in E&S education, including infrastructure upgrades, the Education Praktik program and innovative sector interventions. A one-time grant of Rs300 million was sanctioned to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Education Endowment Fund to provide scholarships across the province, including merged districts.
Other key decisions included Rs 2.1 crore. for an Umrah package for the family of late organ donor Jawad Khan, funding for the Ehsaas Rozgar program to support over 8,000 vulnerable individuals, and financial allocations for health infrastructure, including Rs 2.13 billion. to Khyber Institute of Child Health & Children Hospital, Rs454 million to Lady Sciences Rs1 billion. The Reading Hospital.
