The board will develop mechanisms to secure funding from international climate finance platforms.
JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will establish an independent board to enhance the province’s institutions capacity to combat climate change, strengthen climate resilience, and develop mechanisms to secure funding from international climate finance platforms.
The provincial assembly on Wednesday passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Action Board Bill 2025, aimed at leading coordinated efforts in environmental protection, climate adaptation, and policy reforms.
Provincial minister for law introduced the bill in a session chaired by Speaker Babir Saleem Swati.
The newly enacted legislation provides for the establishment of a Climate Action Board.
The board will comprise nine official members, headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning and Development Department, and will include Secretaries from the departments of Finance, Law, Climate Change, Energy, Transport, and Local Government.
Additionally, four members from the private sector, including at least one woman, will be nominated to the board.
The board’s mandate includes advising the provincial government on climate policy, establishing a greenhouse gas inventory baseline, and facilitating inter-departmental coordination for climate mitigation, adaptation, and research initiatives.
It also calls for climate tagging of all Annual Development Program (ADP) projects to align with environmental sustainability goals.
To finance its initiatives, the board will manage a dedicated Climate Action Board Fund, and will actively seek funding from international mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, Climate Investment Fund, and the Global Environment Facility.
The board is also tasked with enabling the province’s participation in carbon markets, generating carbon credits, and developing carbon pricing strategies to promote low-carbon development.
Moreover, the Climate Action Board will oversee the monitoring and evaluation of climate programs, launch public awareness campaigns, and facilitate capacity-building by approving nominations for training, conferences, and climate-related events.
It will also ensure coordination among government bodies, industries, and local communities to strengthen climate resilience across the province.
A separate secretariat will be established to support its operations, with its head reporting directly to the board on climate-related matters.
Meanwhile, the KP Assembly approved the Prosecution Service Amendment Bill 2025, which includes provisions to enhance the powers of prosecutors. Under the new legislation, prosecutors will be authorized to dismiss weak cases to help reduce case pendency in courts. The bill also mandates that police officers must now seek legal guidance from the concerned District Public Prosecutor before initiating legal proceedings.
The Charity Amendment Bill introduces changes to the procedure for the registration of charity organizations in the province. As per the new provisions, charities will be required to renew their registration every two years, with the fee for renewal to be determined by the Charity Commission.
The Assembly also passed the Legal Aid Amendment Bill, amending sections 3 and 7 of the original law. The revised law designates the Director General Prosecution as the Director General of the Legal Aid Agency. A special wing will be created within the Directorate of Prosecution to oversee the implementation of this program. The bill aims to provide free legal aid to underprivileged individuals involved in family and criminal cases.
Additionally, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servants Housing Foundation Bill 2025 was passed. The bill provides for the establishment of the Government Servants Housing Foundation, which will operate under the Housing Department.
Later, the chair put off the session for an indefinite period.
