PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman Tuesday said that provincial cabinet had decided to introduce a Mass Transit System for improving existing transport facilities in provincial metropolis with an estimated cost of Rs 25 billion.
Briefing media person regarding decisions taken by KPK Cabinet in a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, he informed that feasibility of the project that has been accorded under Mass Transit Act 2016 had already been started and be completed by 2018.
He said that transport and its related matters fell in ambit of Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2016 and Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 but owing to certain indispensable rules KPK Urban Mass Transit Act 2016 had been drafted and being forwarded to cabinet for approval.
He said that legal document on the subject matter had been drafted with the help of Asian Development Bank adding that draft had been approved by cabinet unanimously.
Under the said draft, KPK Urban Mobility Authority would be set up to regulate transit system and establishing urban transport companies.
The proposed authority would be run by Board of Directors, and its chairman would be Chief Minister, he said.
Other functionaries would be transport minister and six members comprised three MPAs and three civil society representatives.
He said that keeping in view the deaths of parliamentarians in various incident of terrorism, cabinet had decided to remunerate heirs of matyred MPAs by giving them Rs 10 million, allotting them a plot besides providing free education to their children up to post graduation.
Shah Farman said that cabinet had also approved amendments in KPK Procurement Regulatory Authority Act 2012 to modify its working and make it compatible according to rules making necessities.
He informed that forest duties and penalties that were imposed on pine nuts (Chalgoza), walnuts and mushrooms under section -115 of KPK Forest Ordinance 2002 were increased by special budget meeting of the cabinet held on June 14, 2014.
The cabinet has revoked penalty on mushrooms while the proposals regarding pine nuts and its cones suggestion of concerned department has been accorded.
Provincial minister said that cabinet had also directed departments of police and transport to bring improvement in license issuing process and sought a report to upgrade existing traffic system.
He said that provincial cabinet had constituted a committee comprising provincial ministers, Shah Farman, Qalander Lodhi and Abul Munim, Secretary Law and Secretary Establishment to forward proposals regarding creating a new zone in KPK Public Service Commission for underdeveloped areas of Kohistan, Shangla, Batagram and Torghar.
He informed that cabinet meeting also approved amendment draft of KP Lilsail Wal Mehroom Foundation Act 2015 to address matters relating to services regularization of employees working in the foundation.
Source: APP
