Tag: Khyber Pakhtun­khwa

  • KP CM to forward Assembly dissolution advice today

    KP CM to forward Assembly dissolution advice today

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan has said on Tuesday that he will sign the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly by tonight.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has asked the CM to send the summary for the assembly’s dissolution to the KP governor, Haji Ghulam Ali.

    “The last four years were very pleasant, and I thank all the members, government and Opposition members and bureaucracy,” said the KP chief minister.

    Mahmood said that his party will form the government by winning two-thirds of the majority in the general elections.

    He blamed the incumbent government for instability in the country, saying that getting rid of the “corrupt group” has become necessary.

    Last week, Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi had sent the summary to the governor, Baligh Ur Rehman, for the Punjab Assembly’s dissolution. However, Rehman refused to sign it, and the legislative was automatically dissolved after 48 hours.

  • A small library thrives in a Pakistani town known for guns, drugs and bombs

    A small library thrives in a Pakistani town known for guns, drugs and bombs

    In the town Dara Adamkhel, guns and drugs are common but now Raj Mohammad, an academic and poet, has set up a small library which has over 500 members, AFP reports.

    Dara Adamkhel is the main town in the Kohat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, known as the center of illegal arms trade where markets and stalls are stockpiled with pistols, automatic rifles, as well as various types of bullets.

    The library is only a short walk away from the markets where books like Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs Dalloway”, as well as the YA “Twilight Saga” series are available for readers.

    Raj Mohammad was at first pessmistic about the idea of starting a library, as he tells AFP that in a town notorious for gun violence, a library would have no place.
    “Initially we were discouraged. People asked, ‘What is the use of books in a place like Darra Adamkhel? Who would ever read here?’

    We now have more than 500 members,” he said.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the lowest literacy rate among all of the provinces in Pakistan, which was reportedly 55 percent in 2020. A study compiled by Huma Zia Faran and Zohair Zaidi on the growing rates of children dropping out of school in 2021 found that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 60 per cent children had dropped out of school.

    However, 33 year old volunteer librarian Shafiullah Afridi told AFP that more of the younger generation are interested in reading rather than engaging in the guns and drug business.

    “Especially among the younger generation who are now interested in education instead of weapons.”

    “When people see young people in their neighborhood becoming doctors and engineers, others also start sending their children to school,” he told the news outlet.

    Despite the noise from gun testing and bombs raging outside, the librarians have ensured that they offer a quiet and peaceful environment within the library, enforcing a strict “no guns policy” as their members browse through the 4000 books in English, Urdu and Pashto. Along with popular fiction titles, the library has books on the history of Pakistan, guides for sitting the civil service exam and also selections on Islamic teachings.

    “You could say we planted the library on a pile of weapons”, said Mohammad.

    The story was originally covered by The New York Times in 2019.

  • Imran Khan to give date for dissolution of assemblies before December 20: Reports

    Imran Khan to give date for dissolution of assemblies before December 20: Reports

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in a consultative session with lawmakers from Bhakkar, Mianwali, Pakpattan and Sahiwal told them that the provincial assemblies being governed by his party will be dissolved this very month and the date of the dissolution will be made public prior to December 20.

    The PTI earlier gave a deadline of December 20 to the federal coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to announce a date for general elections, otherwise, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies will be dissolved.

    In reply, the ruling coalition has told the PTI chairman to dissolve the assemblies.

    According to the media reports, Khan said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Qauid (PML-Q) is on the same page with the PTI on the issue of Punjab assembly’s dissolution.

    “The PML-Q is a vital ally. We have intimated them of our decision,” Imran Khan said.

    “Our politics is not above the country. This government has destroyed the national economy,” he maintained.

    Earlier, Senior Vice-President of PTI, Fawad Chaudhry, addressing the ruling coalition said, “Leaders of the imported government don’t want polls and they have no idea how to run the country.”

    “If PDM doesn’t bring a formula for holding general elections by December 20, the Punjab and KP assemblies will be dissolved,” Fawad said.

  • Some PTI members don’t want to dissolve assemblies, says Asad Umar

    Some PTI members don’t want to dissolve assemblies, says Asad Umar

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former federal minister Asad Umar has admitted that there is a difference of opinion among party members on the dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies, reports Daily Jang.

    He also revealed that while a few party members are in favour of the immediate dissolution of assemblies, however, others are against it.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI has given December 20 deadline to the government to finalise a date for general elections or else assemblies will be dissolved as announced by Imran Khan on November 26.

    A day earlier, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry warned the ruling coalition that the party would order the dissolution of assemblies if a final date for the next general election is not announced by next week.

    Earlier this month, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi said that he did not see elections taking place in the next four months. However, he showed full support for Khan’s decision over the dissolution matter.

  • KP launches AI-based attendance system for schools

    KP launches AI-based attendance system for schools

    Due to an upsurge in complaints about teachers’ absences, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has deployed artificial intelligence (AI)-based video systems in schools to monitor students’ and teachers’ live attendance.

    According to Zarif-ul-Mani, MD of the Elementary Schools Education Foundation (ESEF), the AI-based attendance system in the foundation schools would uphold the standard of instruction and improve student performance.

    He also described how the School Management Information System (SMIS) works to guarantee quality, accountability, and a simple transfer of scholarship cash to partners.

    He also commended the ESEF’s e-governance division for reviving this project, which had been mismanaged in the past.

    Additionally, the project would reduce dropout rates while guaranteeing that professors are present and that classes start on schedule.

    Prior to that, the government of Sindh made the decision to take strong action against teachers who were getting their wages while staying at home and neglecting their jobs.

    The provincial education agency reportedly stopped more than 2,000 “ghost teachers” being paid across the province.

    According to Express Tribune, Akbar Laghari, the education secretary for Sindh, said in a statement on the choice that they have filed a letter to the AG for Sindh asking him to cease paying the wages of 2,019 ghost teachers.

    He added that the department would fire the “ghost teachers” and would do everything it took to ensure that teachers showed up for work.

  • KP govt amends law to allow official helicopter to be used by private individuals

    KP govt amends law to allow official helicopter to be used by private individuals

    A number of social media users claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had enacted special legislation allowing for the use of government aircraft by private individuals, but it wasn’t clear whether the information was legit until Geo Fact Check verified it.

    Several Twitter users, on November 14, tweeted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was implementing new regulations to permit Imran Khan, a former prime minister who is currently out of power, to continue using the official chopper.

    It turns out that the rumours making the rounds on social media are true.

    A bill to alter the 1975 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act has been drafted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

    The amended bill is named The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) (Second Amendment) Act 2022.

    According to the proposed legislation, a new section will be added to the original law, which reads:

    1. The chief minister may allow a minister, advisor or special assistant to the chief minister, public servant or government servant to use an aircraft or helicopter of the government at government expense.
    2. Any official aircraft or helicopter, subject to availability and with prior approval of the chief minister, can be used for private purposes, on payment of charges at the rate determined by the government from time to time.

    The bill, a copy of which is available at Geo Fact Check, also states that individuals who have been given permission by the chief minister to use an aircraft may bring along as many assistants, support workers, and other people.

  • Govt to spend Rs40 billion to uplift 20 backward districts

    Govt to spend Rs40 billion to uplift 20 backward districts

    In order to initiate rehabilitation projects across 20 backward and underprivileged districts over the course of 60 months in four provinces, the Ministry of Planning has announced a special development project worth Rs40 billion.

    The federal and provincial governments are expected to split the project’s estimated cost 50:50. The project has received approval from the Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal-led Central Development Working Party (CDWP).

    According to DAWN, the project has already been given a budget of Rs18 billion for PSDP 2022–23. Eleven districts from Balochistan, five from Sindh, three from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one from Punjab are among the 20 districts that were chosen based on Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) ratings. The recent flood calamity, notably in Balochistan and Sindh, has severely damaged many of these districts.

    Sherani, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Barkhan, Killa Abdullah, Zhob, Musakhel, Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad, Ziarat, and Killa Saifullah are among the 11 districts in Balochistan. Sujawal, Thatta, Tharparkar, Kashmore, and Badin are five in Sindh; Torghar, Shangla, and North Waziristan are three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and Rajanpur is one district in Punjab.

    The tentative interventions in these districts will be in the areas of connectivity via roads, access to broadband services and the internet, solarization of off-grid areas, establishment of LPG terminals, development of the agri-livestock and mineral value-chain, tunnel framing, dairy farming, fish farming, etc., establishment of common border markets, investments in skill development, and student scholarships.

    Additionally, the provincial and federal governments will choose sub-projects based on a thorough analysis of the requirements of the marginalised population in their respective regions. These initiatives will be approved by the relevant federal and provincial forums. Steering committees at the federal and provincial levels will oversee the sub-projects.

    “This is the first of its kind project in the economic history of Pakistan where the federal government is undertaking a national intervention to uplift the poorest districts and address the disparity in economic development,” said the planning minister in a statement released on Saturday.

    With the assistance of the UNDP, the MPI survey was finished in 2017–18, allowing for the first time ever to map poverty at the district level nationwide.

    Through targeted investments in infrastructure and the development of human capital in the nation’s poorest regions, the project’s principal goal is to promote inclusive growth and equitable development. One of the main cornerstones of the proposal is investments in human capital development, especially for young people and women.

    According to Pakistan’s MPI estimation for 2017–18, 38.3 percent of Pakistan’s population (87,089,000 people in 2020) will be multidimensionally poor, and a further 12.9 percent will be vulnerable to multidimensional poverty (29,353,000 people in 2020).

    The initiative seeks to significantly contribute to eliminating regional inequality and enhancing national integration and peace in the nation in line with Pakistan Vision 2025 and the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Youth Development Program, which the project is a part of, was introduced last month.

  • Free-of-cost bus service launched in Gilgit-Baltistan for women

    Free-of-cost bus service launched in Gilgit-Baltistan for women

    A women-only, free-of-cost bus service has been launched in Gilgit-Baltistan. It was inaugurated by Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Minister Khalid Khursheed. The bus service will initially be run on four routes.

    “Pink buses for women have been inaugurated today by Chief Minister GB. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, free buses for women have been launched. Three buses each have been made operational in Gilgit and Skardu city, with the government planning to expand it to further areas of the province,” a tweet by Office of the Chief Secretary, Gilgit Baltistan read.

    4 routes have been earmarked where buses will operate at two times i.e. 6am to 9am and 1pm to 3pm. Female students, doctors, teachers, lawyers and other professionals will benefit from this initiative. Traffic police have been instructed to facilitate these buses on roads,” It added.

    Free-of-cost bus service launched in Gilgit-Baltistan for women.

  • Trouble for IK as ECP imposes fine on him for holding jalsa in Peshawar

    Trouble for IK as ECP imposes fine on him for holding jalsa in Peshawar

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has imposed a fine of Rs.50,000 on Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan, and other party leaders.

    The fine was imposed on them for violating the code of conduct issued for the upcoming by-elections by participating in a rally in Peshawar despite the commission’s warning.

    On September 6, PTI held a rally in the provincial capital Immediately after Imran’s arrival on stage, YouTube’s access in the country appeared blocked or greatly slowed down.

    Following the violation, District Monitoring Officer (DMO), Peshawar, Shahabuddin, had served notices to Khan, the Chief Minister and others, seeking an explanation. They appeared before the DMO and submitted written replies.

    However, the DMO deemed the reply unsatisfactory and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on each of the leaders, directing them to deposit the fine to the state exchequer by September 18.

    It is pertinent to mention that a day before the Peshawar rally, the DMO had asked PTI not to attend the rally and warned of legal action.

    Another PTI rally is scheduled to be held in Charsadda on September 17 and for that, the commission sent letters to the KP governor and chief minister asking them not to attend it.

    This is not the first time that a fine has been imposed on PTI leaders. In March, ECP slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on Imran Khan, CM Mahmood Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and others for violating the code of conduct as they all attended a public gathering in Swat on March 16 ahead of the no-confidence motion.

  • Govt to conduct forensic audit of audio call between PTI leaders

    Govt to conduct forensic audit of audio call between PTI leaders

    Federal Law Minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar, has confirmed on Wednesday, (August 31) that the government will be conducting a forensic audit of two leaked audio calls between former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Punjab Finance Minister Mohsin Leghari and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra.

    “Tarin did not obey his oath and attempted to prioritise politics over the state. This case falls under the category of rebellion against the state,” said Tarar, referring to the leaked audio call.

    Tarar also said that action will be taken according to the law once the forensic report is released.

    Read more: Leaked audio: PTI’s Shaukat Tarin allegedly advising finance ministers in Punjab, KP to sabotage IMF deal

    It is pertinent to mention here that on August 29, in a leaked audio, Tarin allegedly instructed Leghari and Jhagra in two separate calls, to write letters withdrawing from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) deal. At the time, the federal government was in talks to finalize the terms of a $1.6 billion bailout package for the country from IMF.

    Read more: ‘Yeh ab tai hogaya hai Imran Khan Pakistan aur 22 crore logo se zyada eham hain’: Twitter reacts to leaked audio

    Tarin, while speaking on a political talk show on Express News, said that he wants to tell Pakistanis that now their WhatsApp calls are also being tapped.

    “It was a WhatsApp call. I am disappointed that a WhatsApp call was being recorded. We can take up this matter legally,” said Tarin.

    Read more: ‘WhatsApp calls are being tapped’: Shaukat Tarin

    However, it remains unclear who recorded and released the alleged audio recording.