CM-Mahmood Khan orders officials concerned for setting up a plant to produce energy from wastes
PESHAWAR
The provincial cabinet on Tuesday approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change Policy and Action Plan-2022, which focused bold and creative actions to address challenges posed by the climatic changes to ecosystems of the province.
The new policy is consistent with national climate change policy with an action plan to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gases emissions on living and nonliving things in the province and capitalize on adaptation measures for sustainable development.
After the 18th Constitution Amendments KP was the first province to develop a provincial climate change policy in 2017 and now it has updated its provincial policy 2022 with a climate action plan.
The revised policy for climate change covers as many as nine Agro-Ecological Zones of the province including the merged districts.
The successful implementation of the policy will open new avenues to attract international climate financing in adaptation and mitigation sectors, allowing KP to achieve sustainable development and create resilience against natural disasters.
Giving details of KP Climate Change Policy 2022, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said that the policy emphasized on province’s vulnerability to climate change and how measures such as adaptation and mitigation in relevant sectors of the economy.
He said it focused on the effect of climate change on the province and the need for the province to adapt and mitigate the effect of climate change. Awareness among the masses about climate change and environmental degradation was an integral part of the provincial climate change policy, he added.
Briefing media persons about the decisions of the cabinet meeting at ITLA’A Cell informed that the Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to complete a feasibility study within a month period for setting up a plant for producing energy from wastes/garbage.
The bio-fuel plant will not only help in controlling environmental pollution but will also contribute towards making the province self-sufficient in energy.
The Chief Minister, he said, further directed for bringing amendments in the relevant laws with regard to the acquisition of land for setting up universities and no more than 100 Kanals of land be procured for a university.
This will ensure the protection of agricultural lands. The cabinet, he said, also accorded approval towards allowing the food department to sign MoU with the Bank of Khyber for Insaf Food Card.
The deserving households, he said, will receive rupees 2100 monthly under the Insaf Food Card for which billions of rupees will be borne by the government as subsidy.
The SACM further informed that the cabinet while reviewing some of its earlier decisions taken during the special budget meeting held on June 13, 2022 accorded approval to reduce the Ad-hoc Allowance 2022 from 16pc to 15pc to be granted to all provincial government employees on running basic pay, with no immediate pay-as-you-go deduction towards the Defined Contribution Pension Program.
Similarly, the decision regarding calculation of pension emoluments on the basis of last three years’ average basic pay with effect from 1st July 2022 was also held in abeyance.
He said that the cabinet also approved the extension of Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) Bannu’s jurisdiction to 11 village councils and five neighborhood councils falling within the ambit of the Assistant Director Local Government Bannu to benefit a population of 89, 596 persons.
Barrister Saif further said that the cabinet also accorded approval for lease agreement between the Local Government, Elections & Rural Development Department and Sports, Tourism and Culture Department for giving 100 Kanal land, located on Mardan bypass road, on lease basis to the latter one for the establishment of a Cultural Complex in Mardan. The cabinet, he further informed, also approved the inclusion of Patwar Halqas of Sulatanr and Jarogo valleys in the jurisdiction of Upper Swat Development Authority to enable the Authority to carry out its functions regarding promotion of eco-tourism and environment friendly development effectively.
The cabinet approved personal upgradation of as many as four employees of the defunct FATA Development Corporation, which included Muhammad Suleman Khan, Muhammad Rafiq, Sanaullah and Fazal Rabi.
He said the cabinet also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Act, 2022 with certain amendments in the previous one to make it more clear and simple. Furthermore, the cabinet also approved the posting of Mr. Zakaullah Khattak (PCS EG BS-20) against the vacant post of Managing Director, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority, he informed.
Similarly, the cabinet also approved regularization of the 21 left over Special Police Officers of the Special Police Force against the vacant positions in various districts of the province.
The meeting besides the cabinet members was also attended by the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue and Administrative Secretaries of various government departments.
