Amid the crackdown on wheat transportation in Punjab, prices of wheat and flour have skyrocketed, leaving consumers in a bind. Photos: Express/FICHIER
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, has approved the purchase of 175,000 tonnes of wheat, at an estimated cost of over Rs 19 billion.
The move is part of broader efforts to ensure stable supplies and mitigate price fluctuations of essential commodities. Additionally, the cabinet sanctioned the deregulation of sugar to promote a more transparent and stable supply chain nationwide.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the approval of an enhanced Ramazan relief package for over a million deserving families. As announced by Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Information Shafi Jan, over 10 lakh poor households will receive Rs 12,500 per family directly through digital payments during the holy month. Priority will be given to the poor, widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, transgender persons and those affected by natural disasters.
Government and semi-government sector employees will not be eligible for this assistance.
The cabinet also allocated additional funds to the families of security force martyrs, approving Rs 496 million as additional grant for the heirs of 190 martyrs under the Shuhada package. Financial assistance was provided to indigent patients suffering from complex and costly illnesses.
In the area of social protection and minority rights, the cabinet approved the reconstitution of the Quran Council with the appointment of 19 members for a three-year term.
He approved the appointment of members of the National Commission for Minorities, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Kalash Marriage Bill and the Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill to safeguard the rights of minorities.
The approval of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Women’s Empowerment Policy 2026-2030, which sets out six core objectives: increasing women’s participation in economic activities and employment; guarantee access to social services and human development; promote active roles in political and social leadership; ensure legal protection and justice; enable digital inclusion; and protecting women during climate change and disasters.
Education received a boost with the decision to reactivate 325 non-functional computer labs in higher secondary schools and provide internet connectivity to 958 schools. This aims to strengthen the integration of information technology and AI-related educational initiatives. The cabinet also approved the increase in costs of the tele-education pilot project in 175 schools.
