[h=1]SKMCH to help computerise patients’ record at teaching hospitals[/h] PESHAWAR: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore is extending technical assistance in computerisation of patients’ record at the four teaching hospitals of the province, according to sources.
They said that it would help the government in making evidence-based decisions regarding health policies to benefit the patients and improve attendance and make better utilisation of resources. The Health Management Information System is being established at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex and Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar and Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad where the provincial government has enforced Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act to bring improvement in patients’ care. Last week, experts from SKMCH & RC visited the designated hospitals and issued guidelines to the officials concerned before full-fledged installation of HMIS under which the data of all patients coming to the hospitals with their past history, investigations and information of drugs prescribed to them by doctors would be saved. [h=4]The system will enable govt to make evidence-based decisions regarding health policies[/h] “Presently, the hospitals face acute shortage of space for storage of millions of patients’ charts due to which the information about diseases are not properly documented,” sources said. They said that old methods were employed to maintain the record. Relevant officials said that the new mechanism would be a paperless and patients could reach their record easily as opposed to present system under which everyone had to produce past record at the time of visits. Sources said that the mechanism gained currency because government could make effective policies about the prevention of diseases when it had statistics. “We need information, data and figures etc, then analyse and see if specific diseases are common in areas and research can be conducted to dig out causes and take preventive steps,” said health experts. Worldwide healthcare policies take shape on the basis of genuine statistics which give input to devise strategies but the information should be accurate and authentic, fulfilling quality assurance standard. The government can utilise the data regarding incidence of heart attacks, tuberculosis, malaria and diabetes etc for formulating programmes for their control and prevention. The system gives any idea about diseases’ trend at the hospitals on the basis of which planes are made.
However, sources said that a central system installed recently at Khyber Teaching Hospital was fraught with flaws. “The mechanism installed by SKMCH&RC is a good step to ensure record of all patients at the central level but the system doesn’t cover all the disease,” they added. The patients are issued discharge slips from the ward which is downloaded from the central system and patients are discharged with wrong diseases. The system has coded all the disease and the doctor doesn’t have a choice to insert anything in column of disease or diagnosis at the time of discharge. The latest move has been the recommendation of Dr Faisal Sultan, the chief executive officer of SKMCH&RC and chairman Board of Governors KTH, to interconnect the MTI-covered hospitals for data record. The hospitals are planning to upgrade and renovate their existing network and recruit skilled staff for the information system. It will make available data of four hospitals not only to facilitate patients’ care but also provide assistance to other systems in the hospital like procurement, payroll and attendance of the staff etc. Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2015
[h=1]PHC finds KP’s Ehtesab law ‘reasonable’[/h] PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court larger bench on Wednesday declared the enactment of the provincial Ehtesab law by the PTI-led government in accordance with the Constitution and dismissed 15 petitions of some former ministers and government officials against the law and different steps taken under it.
The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel had heard the detailed arguments of all parties to the case for six days and reserved its judgment on Nov 30. Other members of the bench were Justice Nisar Hussain, Justice Irshad Qaisar, Justice Syed Afsar Shah and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem. Prominent among the petitioners are former provincial minister and MPA Ziaullah Afridi, former provincial minister and Senator Sitara Ayaz, former provincial minister and PPP leader Liaquat Shabab, district coordination officer of Kohat and PTI MPA Gul Sahab Khan’s father Noor Daraz, provincial secretary of industries Sajid Jadoon, former provincial secretary of mines and minerals Mian Waheeduddin and former director general of mines Dr Liaquat Ali. [h=4]Larger bench rejects petitions of ex-ministers, govt officials against KPECA and steps taken under it[/h] In a short order, the bench ruled that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act (KPECA), 2014, was in accordance with the Constitution and that it was a reasonable piece of legislation. The bench ruled that the interim bail earlier granted to some petitioners would continue until their bail petitions were decided on merit. Similarly, the interim pre-arrest bail granted to Senator Sitara Ayaz and Mian Waheeduddin will also continue until their cases are decided on merit. Currently, Ziaullah Afridi, Dr Liaquat Ali and Sajid Jadoon are behind bars in connection with cases of corrupt practices and misuse of authority.
The bench also dismissed a petition of Liaquat Shabab against the appointment of retired Lt-General Hamid Khan as the KPEC director general. The counsel appearing for the petitioners had contended that the commission had started inquiries against different person last year and had started arresting suspects in Apr 2015. They said the chief secretary had issued a notification on Sept 14, 2015, for the setting up of the commission, which meant that prior to that notification all the acts done by the said commission and the provincial government in that regard were illegal including the appointment of the DG. They had contended that the commission had also been given powers to deal with cases since 2004, which was against the Constitution as retrospective effect could not be given to that law. They had argued that in the presence of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 the provincial government had no powers to enact another law for setting up a new body for the same purpose of conducting accountability. They claimed that under Article 137 of the Constitution in any matter with respect to which both Parliament and provincial assembly of a province had powers to make laws, the executive authority of the province shall be subject to the executive authority expressly conferred by the Constitution or by the law made by Parliament upon the federal government. They contended that in the presence of the NAB Law the Doctrine of Occupied field would be attracted as when a comprehensive law was already in the field the provincial legislature could not enact law on same subject. Additional attorney general Syed Attique Shah had insisted the impugned Act was an intrusion into the NAO, which was promulgated in 1999, and had already been declared a valid law by the Supreme Court. In defence of the KPEC, KP advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai, prosecutor general Yahya Zahid Gillani, deputy prosecutor general Zahid Aman and additional deputy prosecutor generals Lajbar Khan and Qazi Babar Irshad had advanced arguments and contended that the Act was a valid piece of legislation and the provincial assembly was competent to enact a law for check rampant corruption. They had contended that the KPEC Act was not in conflict with any of the provision of the Constitution or any other law. They had rebutted the petitioners’ contention that in the presence of NAB law, anti-corruption was an occupied field and the provinces had no authority to enact a law in that regard. According to them, the field is not occupied as NAB has miserably failed in eliminating corruption from the society and that because of the NAB’s failure, the provincial government was compelled to introduce the KPEC Act. Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2015
[h=1]Traffic training course ends [/h] PESHAWAR: The passing out parade of the 142th traffic training course was held at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines here on Wednesday. DIG Traffic Mohammad Zafar Ali Khan was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, he said the beauty of a city could be judged from its traffic system and a traffic sergeant could play a pivotal role in that regard. He directed the jawans to maintain the sanctity of the uniform at all costs. He called upon the fresh recruits to demonstrate good behaviuor while performing their duty, which was one of the prerequisites of their profession. Zafar Ali maintained that there was a big scope of public service in traffic and urged the recruits to make best use of their training and serve the people to the best of their capabilities. The chief guest appreciated the standard of the parade and directed the recruits to ensure enforcement of traffic regulations in their respective districts. On the occasion, SSP traffic Sadiq Hussain Baloch said three Ts ‘traffic engineering, traffic education and traffic enforcement’ were playing pivotal role in resolution of traffic problems. He said beside traffic police other institutions should also play their role to redress traffic bottlenecks. He disclosed that a traffic master plan was being finalised and after its implementation people would feel visible and prominent changes on roads. Earlier, the chief guest distributed cash awards and course certificates among the position holders. Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2015
[h=1]Bids call to procure medicines for KP govt hospitals cancelled[/h] PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has cancelled financial bids for the already-delayed procurement of medicines and surgical items for the government hospitals in the province and thus, causing concern.
A senior official of the department, however, defended the move citing lack of transparency in the process as the reason. Sources told Dawn that the process had already been delayed and that many public sector hospitals in different districts, especially those in far-flung regions, were running short of medicines. “The process (to procure medicines and surgical items) has already been delayed and the decision to cancel financial bids without assigning any reasons would further prolong purchase of medicine for the health institutions,” said an official, adding that some hospitals were already facing shortage of medicines. [h=4]Official defends move citing lack of transparency in the process as reason[/h] The Central Medicine Coordination Committee, a centralised body, which oversees the purchase for and supply of drugs to public sector hospitals in the province, started the process in February 2015 through advertisement in various national dailies. Of the total 229 firms, 152 were qualified for supplying the required products after conducting the whole process, including physical inspection of companies across the country. Sources claimed the legal procedure required for such procurements was followed by the then health secretary and head of the committee. One of the affected parties said the appeals of the rejected firms were disposed of in accordance with the rules of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Procurement Rules Act. These sources said that secretary health Mushtaq Jadoon, who was later removed from the post, approved the whole process and advertised financial bids in newspapers and the opening of bids was fixed for November 17 last. “It is extremely discouraging that a vital process for purchase of medicines has been delayed inordinately due to questionable intentions of the concerned authorities or their ignorance about the procedure,” the sources said. However, the recently-appointed health secretary, Dr Jamal Yousaf, after assuming the charge of the office, suspended the process without intimation and cancelled all financial bids. Sources said the process for the procurement of medicines was normally completed in Sept every year in order to ensure availability of drugs in the public sector hospitals.
They said the shortage of medicines and the delay caused in the procurement of medicines had become so dire that the former health secretary had to request Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to sanction Rs150 million for the purchase of medicines for some hospitals. An official said the medicine procurement process had been centralised as the purchase committees at the district level headed by the relevant deputy commissioners were either late in convening meetings or the companies were reluctant to apply for small bids to some far-flung districts like Kohistan, Shangla and Battagram.
“The process was centralised to make sure the timely purchase and supply of medicines to hospitals,” he said, adding that the health department should have advertised financial bids very early. “The incumbent secretary should have called for fresh bids, if he had any doubts about transparency. He waited for three weeks”, the official said.
When contacted, secretary Dr Jamal cited the ‘glaring flaws’ in the whole process of tendering as the main reason for the cancellation of financial bids. “The technical evaluation committee was also the appellate forum. It was the prosecution and it was the judge. How could the same set of people, who had rejected the companies, decide appeals, too? This had made the whole process questionable,” he said. The secretary said his department would introduce a centralised and more transparent system of procurement and develop a policy in this regard next year. But for now, he said, that since the process had already been delayed, he was allowing the districts to make their own hospital-related purchases. “Let those companies who feel they have been wronged go to court. We shall defend our case,” he said when asked what if some aggrieved parties go to the court and thus, further delaying the procurement process. Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2015
[/h] KOHAT: Though placed in category ‘A’ years ago and declared as a teaching facility the KDA divisional headquarters hospital here has been facing severe shortage of doctors, nurses and equipment. A few days ago its medical superintendent Dr Naseem Jan had to release Rs40,000 from another head for ensuring availability of dental filling material at the dental facility so as to continue treatment of the patients. “I feel ashamed that a divisional headquarters hospital is short of even the filling powder for the treatment of patients needing dental care,” he told Dawn. [h=4]KDA hospital MS says he has briefed DG health about the situation[/h] Dr Jan also conveyed all this to director general health Pervez Kamal during his recent visit to the facility. Talking to Dawn on Saturday, Dr Jan said that after hearing the ordeals of the patients due to less doctors and nurses available in the OPD Mr Kamal asked to immediately send him the list of demands so that the required staff could be arranged for the KDA hospital. The DG was told that 27 doctors were working in the KDA teaching hospital against the needed strength of 100 doctors. He was informed that even the teaching hospital in Bannu had around 100 doctors. Dr Jan said that he had transferred 15 nurses to the Women and Children Hospital (WCH) where they were needed most in the children ward and labour room. He said that more nurses should be appointed at the KDA hospital. The director general approved the posts of three surgeons, three orthopaedic surgeons, 10 medical officers and as many nurses for the hospital. He also told the MS that the government had approved Rs10 million for WCH and Rs20 million for the KDA hospital. This correspondent has learnt that the said fund was announced by the government in September last, but it was yet to be released. Meanwhile, lack of treatment facilities at the periphery hospitals in the district has been forcing the staff to refer patients to the major hospitals in Kohat city who reach there after over an hour travel with great hardships, especially in emergencies during the night. Noor Bibi, 9, was brought from Gumbat at around 12.30am the other night to the WCH in emergency condition. She was having problem in breathing. The dispenser at the health facility in Gumbat had referred her to Kohat. The doctor on duty asked the dispenser to put her on steam inhaler for five minutes after which she started feeling much better. Later, at around 1:40am an ambulance from Kalaya, headquarters of Orakzai Agency, brought a three-month old baby after over a three-hour journey. The parents said that the local hospital in their area had no facility and medicines and moreover due to the threat of militants the medical store owners did not open shops even in emergency cases. The people visiting the city’s hospitals have been demanding provision of treatment facilities at the basic health units in their areas. Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2015
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is set to approve the minimum standards of quality education, which have been prepared in consultation with the stakeholders from all the provinces and federal government to maintain uniformity in the education sector. Minimum standards for quality education have been established with consensus among the provinces’ education departments and the ministry of federal education and professional training with the collaboration of GIZ, a German technical agency. The standards are related to curricula, textbooks, teachers, students’ assessment, school learning environment, etc, according to sources. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa education department is set to take lead in approving the minimum standards’ document in the coming few days, said sources in the education department. [h=4]The document has been prepared in consultation with provinces, centre[/h] They said that with the devolution of the curricula to provinces in the light of 18th amendment, setting up minimum standards in the education sector was a vital decision that to some extent would ensure uniformity of education in the country. The minimum standards for curriculum emphasis clear values that reflect national ideology and culture, a clear expression of the current and future national aims for education and learners’ needs as individuals and citizens. According to the standards, the curricula must consist of guidelines for promoting intellectual, spiritual, aesthetic, emotional, social and physical development of learners and a sense of high expectations for all, extending horizons and raising aspirations, and outcomes relating to knowledge, skills, as well as personal attitudes and attributes. Standards for curricula are aimed at promoting national harmony, unity, social cohesion and global citizenship based on religious, philosophical, cultural and psychological foundations of the nation, reveals the document. The established standards for curricula lay emphasis on understanding, application and creation of knowledge to make education relevant to the lives of students and inculcate lifelong learning besides bringing forth innate faculties/inbuilt potential of learners to make students active, productive, reflective, collaborative and democratic citizens. The document also promotes higher order of thinking that develop the capacity for self-directed learning, a spirit of inquiry, critical thinking, reasoning and teamwork. It includes emerging trends and concepts that are useful in real life situations for making learning more relevant, meaningful and stimulating. It promotes democratic values for peaceful co-existence, unity in diversity and development of positive attitudes towards fellow human beings through respect and tolerance. The document suggests a variety of assessment and evaluation strategies to measure knowledge, skills and attitudes as required by all domains of learning and ensures character building and holistic development of students. The standards for textbooks and other learning materials should be aligned with the curriculum to promote child-centered pedagogy and harmony for national cohesion and integrity. It supports inquiry-based learning, critical thinking and problem solving free from gender, ethnic, religious, sectarian, geographical, cultural, occupational biases. According to the minimum standards for teachers, they should know and understand the national curriculum framework and have an in-depth knowledge of the domain, basic concepts, theories, history, structure and process of acquiring knowledge of their respective subjects. The teachers need to keep themselves abreast of new ideas, emerging concepts, theories, results of research and latest trends at the national and international levels. Applying multiple ways to impart knowledge to learners, making knowledge applicable to real world situations, developing the diverse talents of all students and helping them develop self-confidence and subject matter competence are also part of the standards for teachers. The minimum standards dictate that for effective learning environment the schools should have all basic facilities, proper open place, peaceful and safe environment, etc. The sources said that the process to establish minimum standards for quality education was started in February 2013. Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2015
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday notified it was abandoning undue and extra protocol for VIPs throughout the province. The notification issued from establishment department stated that the government of KP was pleased to abandon with immediate effect undue and extra protocol, unnecessary security routing, traffic restrictions and blocking of public roads during VVIPs and VIP visits throughout the province to avoid any inconvenience to the general public. It added, however, that mandatory security to VVIPs and VIPs would be provided in accordance with law and security protocols as usual. The KP government had earlier hinted its intention to outlaw undue protocol following a nationwide furor after of 10-month-old girl died in Karachi on Wednesday, when her parents failed to enter a hospital due to security restriction put up for the protection of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, special assistant to KP chief minister for information and public relations, was not available for comments on the step. Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2015
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government recently formulated its first-ever draft on the new industrial policy, aiming to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurs to operate and set up new industrial units. Though the provincial government took two and half years to formulate the policy, it proposes initiatives to attract new investors and motivate the current ones. A matter of policy Adviser to the Chief Minister on Industries Abdul Kareem Khan said, “We expect Rs100 billion worth of investments in the province with these steps and it would create more employment opportunities in the province.” In an attempt to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, the policy document promises one-window facilitation centres. The aim is to ensure investors get operational support and industrial plots, while any problems related to such properties would be resolved. The policy also promises software to track applications. It calls for urgent development of the four new industrial estates, including Hattar Phase VII, Jalozai, Ghazi and Rashakai/M-1. The policy also urged the establishment of an industrial estate in Malakand. It suggested the estates be built in close proximity with hydropower stations which would provide direct transmission lines. The industrial policy called for the establishment of an industrial sector in Karak. The area would be spread over 1,000 acres and a 1,000 megawatt (mW), gas-operated power generation plant would be established. All the new industrial estates would be declared special economic zones (SEZ) under the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) Act. Under the legislation, industrial estates would be exempt from custom duties and tax on import of plant machinery and capital goods as well as income tax for 10 years. To help industries recover from losses because of the province’s landlocked location, the K-P government would finance 25% of the cost of industrial plots till December 2016. It would also subsidise 25% of the transportation cost of plant machinery and capital goods from Karachi Port to the industrial site up until till June 30, 2017. It would also bear 25% of the electricity bills for five years of the labour-intensive industry. To encourage women entrepreneurs, the K-P government would reserve Rs500 million to finance 25% of investments made by them which would measure up to Rs3 million per investor. The policy also suggested the K-P government establish trucking stations of 100 acres each. The stations would provide basic facilities, parking, workshops as well as driver and technical training centres. The new industrial set-up would require 200 MW of energy for smooth operation and the K-P government would arrange for uninterrupted power supply. Just paper However, industrialist Ilyas Bilour was of the view that the policy was only a document and it would soon be forgotten by the government. “These are just political statements and will last as long as the previous promises of this government,” he said. He added the policy, if it gets notified, would be more focused on “infrastructural developments rather than easing ways for industrialists to run factories”. He said the real issue was the moratorium on gas connections from the federal government. “Khattak should take up the issue in the Council of Common Interest to end the moratorium if the government was serious in bringing industry to the province,” Bilour said. To Bilour’s objections, Abdul Kareem Khan said the policy had been approved by the cabinet and would be officially inaugurated on December 30 in Islamabad. “Our chief minister has been assured by the federal government that it will provide 50mmcfd gas for industrial use and it would cater to the needs of the sector. Moreover, 70% of K-P is rich in minerals. The province’s share in the energy sector of the country is increasing every day which is the reasons the federal government will not turn down our request,” he asserted. “Those objecting to the policy have also played the same negative role in any positive step of the government in the industrial sector.” Published in The Express Tribune, December 25[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
[/h]PESHAWAR: Parents of 12,567 children refused to get their children inoculated against poliovirus in the recent drive in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Of the cases, 6,243 refusals were reported from Peshawar followed by 2,039 in Bannu. “The refusals were reported in 16 districts of the province,” an official privy to the development told The Express Tribune. “The report from Torghar will arrive in a day or two. The campaign was not carried out in Swabi district for security reasons.” Turning their back Another 102,261 children also missed a three-day polio campaign that was followed by a catch-up campaign as the children were not available when polio teams visited their houses. Besides Peshawar and Bannu, 1,081 refusal cases were reported in Lakki Marwat, 1,045 in Charsadda, 769 in Nowshera, 479 in Tank, 270 in DI Khan, 181 in Mardan, 178 in Karak, 119 in Hangu, 84 in Kohat, 35 in Mansehra, 33 in Haripur, six in Lower Dir, four Abbottabad and only one refusal case was reported from Malakand. “This is what we have compiled so far,” Akbar Khan, focal person at the emergency operation cell (EOC), told The Express Tribune. “This is the latest report as but the cases will be below 12,567 soon as we will be immunising children who have been missed”. He added, “In some areas extended follow-up campaigns are carried out so that all the children are inoculated against the virus.” Akbar added the policy has changed and now the objective was to focus on children who have been missed during previous drives. Given the low output of the frequent polio drives, the K-P government had decided to launch one last drive in December for 2015 to combat the crippling virus. Officials concerned said a meeting was held at an emergency operations centre where it was decided all the districts were prepared to carry out the campaign. Show of support Nowshera District Health Officer Arshad Ahmed Khan appreciated efforts and support of local bodies’ representatives in achieving the goal of a polio-free region. “Concerted efforts for polio eradication by the district administration, health department and partner organisations have yielded positive results as no new polio case has been reported from the area for the last one year.” The DHO added all stakeholders in the Expanded Programme on Immunization were on the same page and the issues identified or pointed out by the monitors or teams were addressed there and then. Arshad shed light on the significant role of scholars in molding public opinion. The target of 0.267 million children was set for the district in the December campaign, for which 927 teams were constituted out of which 772 were mobile, 85 fixed and 70 transit teams. Published in The Express Tribune, December 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2015.
Minister for Education Muhammad Atif Khan chairing a meeting regarding establishment of IT Academy. PHOTO: NNI
PESHAWAR: Minister for Education Muhammad Atif Khan has announced the provincial government plans to introduce digital literacy and a digital curriculum in government schools in collaboration with IT companies. This was stated in a handout issued on Wednesday. According to the document, Muhammad Atif was speaking at a meeting held at K-P Elementary and Secondary Education department in collaboration with Microsoft in the city.
He said recruitment of IT teachers is under way. Atif hoped this phase would be completed by February 15, 2016. Participants discussed a plan to open IT academies across the province.
While appreciating the efforts of the PTI-led provincial government for education, Microsoft offered a free Microsoft certification course to train 15,000 IT teachers in government schools, which would have otherwise cost Rs30,000 per person to the provincial government. The training would commence in summer of 2016 while students will be trained in the second phase of the training as part of the IT Academy. One of the aims of the PTI-led provincial government is to promote and enhance creativity among students, Muhammad Atif said.
He added that since young people are a “great asset of PTI”, the provincial government would provide them with interest-free loans after the next annual budget is passed. “We want to give youth incentives to enable them to play an active role in the development of the country,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015. http://tribune.com.pk/story/1015298/digital-literacy-microsoft-to-train-15000-people-in-k-p/
[h=1]Land record computerisation project launched[/h] PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa revenue and estate department on Wednesday launched the land record computerisation project in the provincial capital.
Revenue and estate minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur launched the project by opening the first digitised service delivery centre at the Government Printing Press on Pajjagi Road here.
He said the computerisation of land records was initiated in Mardan in March this year as a pilot project and that the initiative would be replicated all through the province by 2017.
The minister said work on the project was underway at fast pace in six districts of the province and was likely to be completed next year.
He said the computerisation of land records would be completed in the remaining 12 districts by 2017.
Gandapur said the process to settle land disputes was underway in the remaining six districts.
He said maintenance of the records manually had eroded the people’s confidence in the revenue department and therefore, the record computerisation initiative was taken to restore their confidence.
The minister said patwaris couldn’t temper with the computerised land records.
He said his department was planning to have the geographical information system as well as the one-window operations.
Gandapur said the record computerisation would cost Rs4.5 billion.
“The computerisation of revenue records in the entire province is a tough job but despite all hurdles, we (government) are committed to doing it during our tenure in office,” he said.
The minister said the Pakistan Railways should recover its land from encroachers after his department had computerised its land records.
Subhanullah, senior revenue consultant at the project management unit of the land records computerisation project, told Dawn that in the first phase, seven districts from every division, including Mardan, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Buner, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu, were selected for the computerisation of land records.
He said the project would Land record computerisation project launched be completed in seven districts by June 2016 and in 12 other districts by 2017.
The consultant said the ‘land settlement process’ was currently underway in Chitral and would be executed in other districts in future.
Mohammad Kashif, assistant manager (outsourcing) of the company executing the project, said 70 percent of the computerisation of land records in Peshawar was complete, while the rest would be over soon. He said the revenue department would open four service delivery centres in the provincial capital.
“Another centre is ready for the opening at the deputy commissioner’s offices,” he said.
The official said all four centres of Peshawar were likely to be functional by Feb next year. He said there were 193 revenue estates in Peshawar and that the records of 184 of them had been computerised.
Mr Kashif said the Pajjagi Road centre had been put up at a cost of Rs7.5 million and that it was ready to offer services.
He said the centre would be managed by revenue officers and aided by a qanungo and 10 other staff members, including computers operators. The official said the centre would serve three people at a time.
“The people will get a token after paying Rs250 fee and get copies of transfers and fards (copy of rights) at the same time. However, they will have to go to banks for the transfer of property as it entails the payment of tax liabilities,” he said.
Mr Kashif said the transfer of property would take around 15 days. Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2015
PESHAWAR: Militant groups based in parts of Afghanistan are involved in extortion and kidnapping for ransom in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, IGP Nasir Durrani said in an interview with The Express Tribune. Discussing the change in dynamics of crime and terrorism, Durrani said, “National Action Plan (NAP) led to excellent coordination between various government departments.” Nonetheless, Durrani added, there was a decline in militancy and extortion, these remained pressing concerns.
“There are three types of people involved in extortion: ordinary criminals, militants based in Fata and settled districts, and those based in Afghanistan,” he said. Durrani added military operations in Fata had eliminated extortionists present there while the K-P police targeted them in the settled district. However, the third group based in Afghanistan is still active. As per the IGP, militants groups based in parts of Afghanistan were involved in extortion and kidnapping for ransom in K-P. “Another problem is the illegal gateways that are being used by terrorists to call people and extort money from them,” he said. “These are difficult to deal with. However, we are working on a strategy to address this problem along with the use of Afghan SIMs with the help of FIA and PTA,” he said. According to Durrani, the situation has improved in the province over the past 10 days as far as extortion was concerned. National Action Plan According to Durrani, the National Action Plan (NAP) has ensured government organisations work effectively, in cohesion. He said the apex committee introduced under NAP was a key forum where information is shared. “This committee meets almost on a daily basis at the Corps commander’s office and representatives of all stakeholder organisations attend the meeting,” he said. “Information and intelligence is shared based on which tasks are performed.” He added, “In the past, police had no access to Fata.” He said, “But this is no [longer] a problem as others who work there coordinate with us.” Means to an end “For the past 15 years, terrorism has been a major problem in K-P,” the IGP told The Express Tribune. “So we established the counter-terrorism department. It was approved in 2013 and established in 2014.” He added, “A team was constituted and police stations were created. This year, 400 terrorism cases have been traced successfully and 700 militants have been arrested,” he said. According to Durrani, a team of competent police officers are working for CTD and its efforts have borne fruit. Speaking about the case of a polio worker who was raped in Nowshera, Durrani said the accused was a proclaimed offender who escaped during the Bannu jail break in 2012. He said he had been arrested and a scientific investigation had been initiated in the case. Police act To a question about the effectiveness of reforms initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government, Durrani said he was trying to provide a legislative cover to the reforms introduced over the past two years through the proposed police act. “The proposed act would make us accountable to the public,” he said. “The PTI government provided us a free hand to work in a professional manner and we did so. Now it is time to make these reforms durable by means of legislation.” He added, “These are two main points [in the act] – accountability and authority.” Reinstatement About the reinstatement of some of the 650 employees removed from the police force by the service tribunal, the IGP said it was the right of every individual to get justice and the tribunal had the authority to reinstate fired employees. “After taking charge, I started to purge the police force,” he said. “We removed around 650 people from service. We have no problem if some of them have been restored. They were out of the force for two years and will be under pressure all their lives.” Afghan dilemma CNICs issued to Afghan refugees remain a major problem, he told The Express Tribune. He said it was for the first time in the history of the province that FIRs were being registered against those who attested and facilitated refugees in obtaining these cards. “In the past, NADRA simply blocked the CNICs,” he said. “But now we are registering FIRs against those who facilitated them. It is now not that easy for an Afghan family to obtain a CNIC.” The IGP said in 1988, the federal government allowed refugees to live anywhere outside the refugee camps. This led to a major threat to law and order. “Not all Afghans are criminals,” he said. “The problem is local criminals have a house and [registered identity] through which they can be traced. But refugees move freely across the country after committing a crime, which is a real problem.” Durrani added their policy is to arrest those refugees who are residing in the country without registration. “The jails were soon full of these refugees so we started deporting them,” he said. “There were reports deported refugees were crossing back into the country so our policy is a continuous crackdown against them.” A man of many places Durrani joined the Police Services of Pakistan in 1982. Before he became K-P IGP, he was AIG counter-terrorism in Punjab. Previously, he has served in Islamabad, Jhang, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha and Attock as DPO. Durrani also served as RPO in Rawalpindi. Published in The Express Tribune, December 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s programme to provide free treatment to blood cancer patients has hit a snag as the project has been facing a shortage of funds. Insiders told The Express Tribune on Sunday, the current crisis emerged after 180 new patients were registered at Hayatabad Medical Complex. The health department then demanded funds worth Rs121 million from the K-P government. A health department official requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune, “At least Rs8 billion was issued for the programme, while the government released Rs599.861 million for the said purpose.” He added, “Keeping in view the increasing number of patients, the funds are not enough to meet the needs.” The health department official said, “We have asked the provincial government to release more funds for the programme.” Meanwhile, focal person of the programme, Professor Dr Abid Jameel, could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts. The backdrop The provincial government launched the programme in 2011 in collaboration with Novartis Pharmaceutical Company, which has been providing over 90% of the assistance. Since the start of the project upto November 20, 2014, a total of 866 patients were treated. The second phase of the project was launched on November 20, 2014 by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak who lauded the efforts of the pharmaceutical company for extending support to the programme. At least 445 patients have been treated since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government took over the programme. Published in The Express Tribune, December 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak giving away keys of vehicles to the principals of the colleges. PHOTO: INP PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government announced the establishment of a university campus in each district of the province. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak made the announcement during his speech at a ceremony held by the higher education department at Shuhada-e-APS Memorial Library on Monday. At the event, he handed over vehicles to colleges and distributed scholarship cheques among MPhil and PhD scholars. “The youth are an asset to our nation and their future is not dependent on big buildings or roads, but improvement of the education system,” Khattak said. “That is the reason the government has been taking steps from the first day to change the decades-old system and the measures have proven fruitful.” He added providing education to people in far-flung areas was a top priority of the government. The chief minister added the administration was working on creating a system under which the transfer of government teachers would be banned and their promotion would be conditional on the performance of their institutions. He added rewards and penalties would also be decided under the same system. 100 vehicles The CM said the previous regimes did not focus on schools and paid little attention to the needs of the institutes, while the PTI government will ensure all such necessary requirements are fulfilled. Khattak announced the provision of 100 vehicles to colleges this year and issued orders to recruit teachers on a contractual basis to fill 1,300 vacancies. Khattak distributed the keys of 50 vans among principals of various colleges. He also gave scholarship cheques worth Rs100 million to 315 MPhil and PhD scholars under the faculty development programme of the higher education department. Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ghani said the department was establishing 59 colleges at the district level and work on 29 of them had been completed. At the same time, the rest have also been approved. According to Ghani, 14 vans were handed over last year while 50 were distributed on Monday and 25 have been approved for purchase. Published in The Express Tribune, December 29[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015. http://tribune.com.pk/story/1017836/talking-points-cm-announces-universities-for-each-district/
PESHAWAR: An alliance of councillors and nazims claimed on Monday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government failed to release development funds and allot office space for village and neighbourhood representatives.
Protesting outside the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, they slammed the K-P government, saying the slogan of change was meaningless. Councillor Nazim Ittehad representatives threatened a demonstration on Tuesday (today) in front of PTI Chairperson Imran Khan in the provincial capital when he inaugurates the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Hayatabad. The local government representatives were led by PTI Mardan district council member Sajjad Iqbal, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Jalala-III nazim Muhammad Shoaib, kisan councillor Ghafoor Khan and Katlang nazim Sabir Rehman. The protesting LG representatives held banners inscribed with slogans against the K-P administration and the local government minster. Hundreds of councillors and nazims from Mardan, Batkhela, Kohat, Charsadda, Swabi, Nowshera and Peshawar were part of the demonstration outside the provincial legislature. “The K-P Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan is a liar,” Mardan tehsil councillor Waris Khan of the JI said. He explained Inayatullah and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had announced on the assembly floor and in press statements that 30% of the ADP funds would be allocated for the local government setup. However, councillors stated not even a single penny of the amount had been released. The demonstrators said six months have passed since the LG set-up was established, but none of the promises had been fulfilled. Project or population basis? The sit-in continued till the filling of this report. City district nazim Muhammad Asim Khan failed to convince the protesters who said they would not budge until they met the chief minister. “The government first decided funds would be released on a project basis, but later conditioned them according to the population,” Waris Khan said. He added a PC-I was submitted with union council secretaries, but the provincial government rejected the projects and the LG secretary instructed funds be distributed based on the population of the union council . A senior official of the Local Government and Rural Development department, requesting anonymity, claimed development funds had been released to all tiers of the local government about a month ago. “They want the money to be given in an envelope so that they can use it whichever way they like. That is not the way the system works,” he stressed. The official reiterated funds were transferred to the councils and now the local government representatives have to make their budgets accordingly. “These funds can be utilised for schemes and cannot be spent at will. The PC-1 for the projects has to be approved after which tenders will be issued,” he explained. He said Rs13.1 billion has been allocated for development at village councils out of which Rs6.5 billion was released. At the tehsil/town council level, Rs8.7 billion was allocated and half the amount was released, he added. Similarly, the allocation for the district council was Rs8.57 billion and half the amount had been handed over. No corner office Talking about working space, he said members of district councils would not be provided individual offices. He said a single office would be allotted for the district councils in which the nazim and naib nazims would sit. “All the members of the councils will not be provided [individual] offices,” the official said. He added the tehsil and town councils had also been provided offices in which the nazim and naib nazims would sit, but tehsil councillors would not get individual spaces. He added village council offices comprised three rooms, one for the chairman, the other for the village secretary and the third for members of the council. Published in The Express Tribune, December 29[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
[/h] The inaugural ceremony of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Peshawar. PHOTO COURTESY: CM PRESS SECRETARY PESHAWAR: After being inaugurated by six-year-old Fakhir Afridi, a cancer patient, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital will begin operations from Wednesday (today).
It is the second such facility in Pakistan after the hospital in Lahore. The latter opened its doors in 1994 and is believed to be the first free cancer treatment facility in the world. The aim of the private entity is to provide free treatment to those who cannot bear the expenses to combat the fatal disease. One in two men at risk of developing cancer: specialist Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan, who founded the hospital and named it after his mother, said the objective was to bring change in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and provide a hospital at par with SKMCH. “If we can build SKMCH, why not government hospitals?” he asked. However, the PTI chief stressed only a true leadership was capable of such an accomplishment. Imran thanked the Peshawar High Court (PHC) for vacating a stay order obtained by some doctors against the Health Reforms Act 2015. “Wherever resistance will rise, we will ask them why can’t Lady Reading Hospital offer such services as SKMCH?” Sharing the burden He said the primary reason behind building SKMCH in K-P was to reduce the burden on the facility in Lahore as 40% patients belong to either K-P or Afghanistan. Imran added it was a herculean task to raise Rs4 billion. “SKMCH is the only [such] hospital where 70% patients are treated for free,” the cricketer-turned-politician highlighted. “It is a set-up for members of the public who cannot afford cancer treatment locally or abroad.” He pointed out many who were treated at the facility donated back to it. Imran said the cost to build SKMCH Lahore was Rs700 million and its current balance stands at Rs3.5billion. “Since we treat everyone equally and provide free services, besides other necessities, people donated Rs4billion for SKMCH Peshawar.” SKMCH Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Asim Yousaf said key departments, including chemotherapy, the inpatient unit, the outpatient clinic, pathology and pharmacy would start functioning from Wednesday (today). He said the Peshawar branch was 33% bigger than the one in Lahore. Yousaf said patients needing radiation or surgey will initially be referred to the Lahore hospital and the facilities would be provided to them upon completion of the second phase in Peshawar. Beware! E-cigarettes may lead to cancer According to Yousaf, around 0.2 million new cases were registered annually and 20 such facilities were required to treat all patients. He also thanked former K-P chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti for providing land for the facility. Meanwhile, two individuals donated US$25,000 and US$30,000. Celebrations cancelled Following the suicide attack in Mardan, the Peshawar district government cancelled fireworks to celebrate the opening of SKMCH. City district nazim Muhammad Asim Khan confirmed fireworks were arranged to the hospital’s inauguration through money generated by PTI workers. Published in The Express Tribune, December 30[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
[/h] Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in session. PHOTO: AFP PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly held only one session in 2015 – the longest in the province’s history. This was the 15th session of the present assembly and has been continuing since October 23, 2014.
The parliamentarians met 61 times during the year, with one sitting which lasted all of three minutes and had six lawmakers in attendance. The government introduced 37 legislative bills in the house in 2015 and passed 37 bills, including six from the previous years. Majority of the bills that were enacted were amendments in existing laws, including the K-P Local Government Act 2013, K-P Right to Information Act 2013 and K-P Ehtesab Commission Act 2014. The controversial and heavily criticised K-P Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Bill 2015 and the K-P
Universities (Amendment) Act 2015 were also enacted this year.
The PTI-led provincial government introduced bill for the K-P Conflict of Interest Act 2014. However, it is still pending approval. The bill was well-received by the public as it limits VIP culture and clamps down on corruption through its clauses. The bill, however, has yet to pass as certain members of the government and opposition have reservations over it. The house included itself in the ambit of the RTI law through an amendment in the act, which was also lauded by the public. Under the act, the public was given the right to get information regarding the house. The house also unanimously passed the Finance Act 2015-16 when the opposition boycotted the budget session this year.
CPEC
On the non-legislative side, the house passed 49 resolutions on various topics including one demanding the federal government implement the decisions taken at all-parties conference on May 28, 2015 vis--vis the CPEC in letter and spirit. Over 10 privileged motions were submitted by the members along with 49 call attention notices and eight adjournment motions.
Senate polls
The house also took part in the senate elections and 12 senators from the province were elected this year. It also elected Azam Swati on by-polls for the seat in the upper house of the parliament vacated by Awami National Party’s late Azam Khan Hoti.
The year saw Ziaullah Afridi, a sitting minister and member of the house, jailed under corruption charges. He was produced before the house on special orders of the speaker to clarify his position and refute the allegations against him.
Just after the assembly saw reshuffling on the benches with Qaumi Watan Party re-joining the coalition, the house elected Dr Mehar Taj Roghani as its first ever female deputy speaker, a slot which many PTI parliamentarians were eyeing.
Big on talking Members of the opposition remained the most vocal throughout the year.
From ANP Syed Jafar Shah and Sardar Hussain Babak; from Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Mufti Syed Janan, Shah Hussain, and Munawar Khan; and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha were the ones with the most motions and questions from the opposition.
On the treasury’s side Inayatullah Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami, Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi, Shah Farman and Atif Khan of PTI and QWP’s Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli were among the most vocal parliamentarians. Published in The Express Tribune, December 31[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015
[/h]PESHAWAR: The year 2015 was a mixed bag in terms of security for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Although the number of terrorist attacks saw a decline, durable peace remained a distant dream. The terrorists showed despite largely successful military operations, they were still a force to be reckoned with. A startling reminder of this fact was the large-scale attacks on Hussainia mosque and PAF base in Badabher. Money or your life The menace of extortion also reared its ugly head and the criminals involved went into overdrive after the month of August in Peshawar. Most of the threatening calls were made through Afghan SIMS.
The criminals also frequented the houses of their victims with hand grenades and IEDs, causing widespread panic. Their methods of intimidation included calling traders or wealthy individuals to Afghanistan for a “chat”. Crime and terrorism in K-P: Let the numbers do the talking Most of the business communities in Mohmand, Bajaur and Khyber agencies as well as Afghan traders were the prime target of these extortionists. As a result, the police urged the businessmen to install CCTV cameras and hire security guards for their protection. A police official told The Express Tribune the militants were broken, but not completely eliminated by military operations. He added some of their attacks such as the one on the PAF base in Badabher left a huge psychological impact. Plan of action Police claimed the National Action Plan brought about positive results, but the man on the street tells a different tale. He believes police are just harassing poor people in their daily operations rather than going after real militants and their supporters.
“What kind of National Action Plan is it when you are arrested on suspicion, taken to the police station and released after greasing some palms?” asked a resident of Badabher. ‘NAP was a turning point in inter-governmental coordination’ He claimed dozens of people were often arrested by police during search operations and all of them were released after the payment of a few thousands rupees. In the crosshairs The target killings of policemen remained a problem throughout K-P as several counter-terrorism department personnel were slain. Militants also killed a man in Sheikhan, Badabher on charges of spying in August 2015. This incident was followed by similar killings in Sarband, Mathra, Gulbahar and other parts of the city, showing the terrorists were now in fear after the arrest of peers. On Charsadda Road in the Khazana police jurisdiction, wall chalking, allegedly from the Islamic State, appeared in Arabic. However, police were quick to blame Afghan refugees and it did not give the matter much attention.
During 2015, police remained of the firm belief that IS was yet to make inroads into Pakistan. The positives The CTD was able to solve cold cases related to terrorism including the attacks on Bashir Bilour and Peshawar District Court, among others. Police and CTD were able to foil major terrorist bids including one to target four imambargahs in Muharram and other plots in December. Law-enforcement personnel claimed to have arrested the people behind such designs. IGP Nasir Khan Durrani told The Express Tribune there was a 50% decline in militancy and crimes compared to previous years as a result of police and security forces’ efforts. Extortion victims asked to hop across border to negotiate terms “Security forces conducted the operation in Fata and some militants were killed, while others escaped to settled districts as cities provided good cover,” Durrani said. He added the police, with the government’s help, was able to use legislations like the hotels act and tenants act to ensure militants escaping the tribal areas were denied shelter. “The K-P government introduced legislation and police conducted search and strike operations to pressurise anti-social elements and militants.” The IGP boasted the efforts produced favourable results.
“There is [also] a crackdown against illegal Afghan refugees and thousands of them have been arrested and deported,” he added. Lingering on Durrani admitted extortion and kidnappings for ransom were serious problems and though illegal activities had reduced, the police were unable to eliminate the issue altogether. He claimed such criminal activity was directly linked to militancy and that was the reason CTD was made responsible for investigating these cases along with terrorism-related ones. Although on the decline, streets crimes remained another issue for Peshawar’s residents as the police was unable to control the phenomenon. Published in The Express Tribune, December 31[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
PESHAWAR: The elementary and secondary education department has finalised arrangements for holding centralised examinations of grade-V for the first time in the province with computerised checking of papers, according to officials. They said that the new pattern would be applied to the upcoming annual examinations, to be commenced on March 7. The centralised examination and computerised checking of papers would ensure transparency in the system and would help in accurate assessment of the students, they added. Officials said that computerised checking of papers would replace the manual system to improve students’ assessment, currently conducted at the primary schools by the headmasters of the nearest high or higher secondary schools. The new pattern of the examinations would cost around Rs230 million, they said. Sources in the education department told Dawn that the existing examination system for students of grade-V and manual checking of papers had many flaws that were affecting the students of the government schools. They said that the headmasters of the nearest high or higher secondary schools used to set papers of their choice while in the new pattern students of the entire province would solve the same papers. Private firm will be hired to conduct exams according to the new pattern
The objective type question papers would be set in six subjects including English, mathematics, Islamiat, social studies, Urdu and general science, the sources said. They said that Directorate of Curricula and Teachers Education would hire a private firm for conducting examinations under the new pattern. The administration of DCTE had already floated tenders in the newspapers for hiring a private firm for conducting examinations and papers’ checking, they said. Sources said that district education officers across the province had registered 0.717 million students with the DCTE to appear in the examinations. The papers would be set by the private firm on the instructions of DCTE, they said, adding students would have to solve a single paper every day. One of the headmasters told Dawn that the existing system for evaluation of the students of grade-V was not fair as the headmasters of the high or higher secondary schools had often close relations with the head teacher of the primary school concerned. “In such a situation the examiners (headmasters) promote most of the students to the 6th grade, though many among them deserve to be failed, to save the head teachers from embarrassment,” he said. He added that such students couldn’t understand the coursework in grade-VI after promotion as they couldn’t learn their previous course. “In this way the future of the students is put at stake. I have also passed the students of grade-V for only getting 10 marks,” said the headmaster, whishing not to be named. He said that centralised examinations and computerised checking of papers would also improve the quality of education in the primary schools because education department would seek explanations from the teachers if the failure ratio was high. Secondly, he added, there would be no chance to favour the teachers in their students’ evaluation. The headmaster said that uniformity would also be introduced in terms of paper setting, standardisation and administration in the primary schools. With the introduction of the new examination system, he said, teachers, assistant district education officers, district education officers and provincial education secretariat would start taking interest in the primary schools because the results would be transparent and shared with all stakeholders. When asked about the students and teachers preparation for the new pattern of papers, one of the district education officers told Dawn that model papers were distributed among the primary schools for the guidance of students and teachers. “We have trained students about solving papers of objective type questions,” he added. Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2016
For most part of the year 2015 the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government remained engaged in hectic litigation related to different important laws challenged before the Peshawar High Court. The high court decided different cases in its favour and validated certain legislations, including the KP Local Government Act, 2013; KP Ehtesab Commission Act, 2014; and the KP Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reforms Act, 2015. The year ended on a positive note for the government as on Dec 23 a larger bench of the PHC declared the enactment of two laws – KPEC Act 2014 and MTI Act 2015 – which are dearer to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), as valid laws and in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan. These laws are of immense importance for the provincial government as the entire structures of health reforms and accountability in the province rest on them. The high court had constituted a five-member larger bench for hearing the cases filed against these two laws. The bench was headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and its other members were Justice Nisar Hussain, Justice Mrs Irshad Qaiser, Justice Syed Afasar Shah and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem. While dismissing 15 writ petitions against the provincial Ehtesab law, the high court ruled that it was a reasonable piece of legislation. Prominent among the petitioners were: a former provincial minister and MPA Ziaullah Afridi; ex-provincial minister, Senator Sitara Ayaz; ex-provincial minister and leader of PPP Liaqat Shabab; a district coordination officer of Kohat, Noor Daraz, who is father of PTI MPA Gul Sahab Khan; provincial secretary of industries, Sajid Jadoon; and others.
Some of these petitioners had also challenged a notification issued by the provincial government on Sept 14, 2015 for setting up of the commission, arguing that all the acts done by the commission before that notification may be declared as illegal including the appointment of the Ehtesab Commission’s director general. The petitioners had also argued that in the presence of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 the provincial government had no powers to enact another law for setting up a new body for the same purpose of conducting accountability. Similarly, the bench declared the MTI Reforms Act 2015 a legal enactment, but issued certain directives to the provincial government for improving the law. In its short order, the bench directed the government to make suitable amendment in the impugned Act for creation of post of director of paramedical staff in each of the MTIs. Presently, under the Act there are two posts of directors of MTI, including a medical director and hospital director. The court had asked the government that the law should also be suitably amended and corresponding rules framed to break the cartel of doctors and pharmaceutical companies. The seven petitioners in those cases had challenged different provisions of the MTI Reforms Act and different steps taken under it, including the creation of surplus pool of employees and establishment of board of governors (BoG) for the teaching institutions in the province. The bench directed respondents, including the provincial government, that it should make suitable amendments in the legislation in the light of observation made in the detailed judgment and frame corresponding rules to maintain strict discipline in the institutions, mainly focusing on provision of timely and effective services to public. The detailed judgment has yet to be released by the court. Prominent among the petitioners were: Pakistan Medical Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, through its president Dr Hussain Ahmad Haroon; Pakistan Paramedics Association; Teachers Association of Khyber Medical College; former medical superintendent of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Dr Iftikhar; and some nursing and paramedical staff. The petitioners had challenged the MTI Act on different grounds, stating that the law was unconstitutional and aimed at bringing autonomous medical teaching institutions (MTIs) under the control of provincial government through the board of governors. Earlier, on May 12 a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel had dismissed two writ petitions challenging several provisions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013. Those petitions were filed by provincial parliamentary leader of Awami National Party Sardar Hussain Babak and provincial information secretary of JUI-F Abdul Jalil Jan. The petitioners had challenged the provisions related to holding of village/ neighbourhood councils’ elections on non-party basis; election of nazim and naib-nazim of village/neighbourhood council; powers of chief minister to suspend a district nazim and the decisions of district nazim; etc. The petitioners had stated that it was beyond logic that polls for the district and tehsil councils would be held on party basis whereas that of the village and neighbourhood councils would be held on non-party basis. They claimed that under Chapter 12 of the LGA unbridled powers were assigned to the chief minister which would leave negative impact on the independence of local councils. In another case, a high court bench headed by Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth on April 29 declared the functioning of executive magistrates in the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas under the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation 2009 as unconstitutional and directed the government to make suitable amendments in the Regulation within six months. The bench had issued the directives while disposing of six writ petitions challenging the functioning of executive magistrates in Pata comprising Malakand division along with some other provisions of the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation (NAR) 2009. The executive magistracy, which was abolished in the country in 2001 by the then military government of Pervez Musharraf, was revived in Malakand division under Section 5 and Section 7 (4) of NAR, which provided judicial powers to executive officers who were not under the administrative control of the high court. Those petitions were filed by former district nazim Yousaf Ayub, Barrister Adnan Khan of Swat and four others. The provincial government has filed an appeal against the said judgment, which has now been pending before the Supreme Court. Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2016
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded only 15 polio cases in 2015 against 68 in 2014 owing to the government’s focus on quality of immunisation and the all-out support from the district administrations in the province, it was learnt. The province has shown 78 per cent decrease in polio cases and is set to become virus-free in line with targets set forth at the National Emergency Polio Plan to make the country free of virus by May this year, if it sustained the gains during current year. Experts attribute the effective immunisation campaign to the involvement of chief secretary who spearheaded the campaign and received regular updates from deputy commissioners who had been tasked to facilitate vaccinators in their respective areas. It was for the first time that DCs were given specific targets by the chief secretary regarding immunisation. The support given by other relevant departments, especially police, also remained one of the factors and vaccinators were given tight security to carry out their work. The government has linked promotion of deputy commissioners with their performance in the anti-polio campaigns. Recorded 15 polio cases in 2015, down from 68 in 2014
The outgoing year brought relief to the province that had been under tremendous international pressure to enhance immunisation to do away with the virus. The year showed emergence of negative environmental samples from sewage water in Peshawar which had been positive on most of the occasions in 2014. There has been no case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since Sept 2015. Experts say that the level of government’s sensitivity to polio immunisation had increased due to advocacy, but they fear that any let-up in the campaigns could again pave the way for emergence of polio cases. Between 35,000 and 40,000 people take part in every three-day drive against polio to administer oral polio vaccine to 5.2 million children under age five. About 200,000 children missed vaccination either due to refusal by their parents or their unavailability during door-to-door visits. However, this small fraction of unvaccinated children could put at stake the lives of immunised ones. The community-based vaccination programme has seen many ups and downs since its beginning in mid 90s. The virus exists due to many factors, while lack of government support has always been cited as a reason by the health department for failure to eradicate poliomyelitis, a vaccine-preventable childhood ailment. Pakistan, which recorded 51 cases in 2015, was very close to eradication of polio when it registered only 28 polio cases nationwide in 2005, but the next year the cases swelled to 40. Also, 32 cases were recorded in 2007 and 117 in 2008. Since then, Pakistan has featured prominently with regard to number of polio-infected children because the success achieved couldn’t be sustained in the coming years. In 2014, Pakistan ranked first among the polio endemic countries with 306 cases, 179 of which were reported from Fata alone. In 2015, Fata showed a remarkable progress in eradication efforts with 16 polio cases, a reduction of 95 per cent, mainly because of its coordination with adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There’s 84 per cent decline in polio cases at the national level because of improvement in Fata, mainly due to provision of security to the health workers. The number of cases in Sindh stood at 12, Balochistan seven and Punjab one. The international agencies have appreciated both the Fata and KP and want continuation of the anti-polio efforts. Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2016
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s Drinking Water Policy 2015 plans to ensure the access of the province’s entire population to adequate supply of potable water at affordable cost through efficient and sustainable services by 2025. The policy was approved by the provincial cabinet in Oct last year. The document, a copy of which is available with Dawn, laid downs that during the next fiscal, at least 10 percent of the province’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) funds would be allocated for the drinking water sector. “Priority will be given to unserved areas inhibited by poor and marginalised communities while planning new water supply projects,” it said. According to the policy, 82 per cent of the province’s population has access to improved sources of drinking water, while 41 per cent of those having access to water are served with piped drinking water. It however points out disparities in terms of water supply coverage between urban and rural areas. “Urban areas are mostly covered with 98 percent of people having access to clean drinking water, while 21 percent of rural population estimated to be around one-fifth of the total rural population lacks access to the improved sources of water.” Policy eyes supply of potable water across province by 2025
The policy also said the predominant source of water in the province was groundwater but due to the persistent withdrawal and dwindling re-charge processes, the groundwater was fast depleting at many places. “The surface water sources are mostly available in northern districts of the province. However, unrestrained contamination and increasing use for irrigation pose major threats to safety and availability of surface water for drinking purposes.” The policy said the provincial government would be responsible for policy formulation, and funds allocation and regulation, while the district government would be responsible for scheme identification, funds allocation, planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of local water supply schemes implemented by the public health engineering department from the district government funds. It added that the necessary legislation would be made to establish a water and sanitation service regulator with the legal cover, and administrative and financial autonomy. According to it, the public health engineering and local government departments will be the lead government agencies for the development of the drinking water supply sector in rural and urban areas. In urban areas, the independent water utilities on the pattern of the Water and Sanitation Service Peshawar will be formed, while in small and medium sized towns and cities, tehsil municipal administrations or municipal committees will be responsible for the supply of drinking water. Under the policy, environmental impact assessment will be mandatory for all major water sector projects. It will be the KP Environmental Protection Agency’s responsibility to ensure that such projects do not adversely affect the environment. A long list of villages not having access to water supply will be prepared in each district based on need and demand basis in consultation with the district government and elected representatives. “This list will be prioritised in view of technical, social and financial feasibilities. Each year, schemes will be included in ADP from prioritised list,” it said, adding that the legislations including Drinking Water Act, Water and Sanitation Regulatory Authority Act and Water and Sanitation Companies Act will be made to achieve goals and objectives of the policy. According to the policy, the water quality monitoring and surveillance framework will be established to ensure that equality of all public and private water supplies conform to the required standards. A committee consisting of the local government and public health engineering secretaries, four MPAs nominated by the speaker of the provincial Assembly, technical professionals, academics, civil society and development partners will coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the policy. It will also develop a comprehensive strategy and action plan immediately upon the approval of this policy. When contacted, public health engineering department secretary Nizamuddin said it was the first-ever drinking water policy of the province. He said the policy approved by the provincial cabinet provided a strategic framework for the supply of drinking water across the province. Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2016
PESHAWAR: Peshawar District Nazim Mohammad Asim Khan on Monday directed the authorities concerned to book organisers of ‘vulgar stage dramas’ in two cinemas of the capital city. He also directed removal of signboards along the city roads for having objectionable pictures on them. A statement issued here said the nazim wrote letters to the district administration and police high ups, ordering them to immediately cancel the NOC awarded to the managements of Sabreena and Aena cinemas for organising ‘vulgar’ stage shows. The district nazim took the action when a Peshawar district council member, Malik Aman, complained to him that some parties from Lahore organised vulgar dances and stage shows at the two cinemas for three days. The complainant also showed videos of the shows to the district nazim. In the letter to the SSP Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed, the district nazim asked to register FIR against the organisers of such shows. He also directed the Peshawar Development Authority to remove signboards having objectionable pictures. Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2016
CHARSADDA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday said there’re reservations about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and therefore, his party had planned to hold an multi-party conference on them in Peshawar on Jan 7. Mr Fazl told reporters in Umerzai area of Charsadda that his party had invited the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, the leadership of the ruling PTI, and all parliamentary parties to the event. He said neither the CPEC issue was political nor was it an issue of a single political party and instead, it concerned the entire country, especially the underdeveloped parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “After the Peshawar moot, we’ll be able to talk to the federal government on the corridor issue with unanimity of opinion,” he said, The JUI-F chief said the execution of Shia scholar was the internal matter of Saudi Arabia like the Iranian Revolution was the internal matter of Iran. He said the self-styled militant group, IS, was a product of the western powers. Mr Fazl said both the federal and Sindh governments knew about their limitations on the Rangers powers and that the dispute about it was likely to be resolved in a day or two. He said his party had always supported the negotiated settlement of Afghan issue but international powers were not interested in its resolution. SIT-IN PLANNED: The Jamaat-i-Islami will stage a sit-in outside the Governor’s House in Peshawar on Friday to press the government for the restoration of work on the CPEC’s western route. Addressing party workers here on Monday, JI provincial chief Mushtaq Khan criticised the federal government’s policy on the CPEC project and alleged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being ignored in the project. He said his party would not allow the centre to usurp the rights of KP. “The information about the project has been concealed from smaller provinces. The centre has not taken the KP government into confidence before making changes in the project,” he said. The JI provincial said Pakistan would become an economic power after the corridor project’s completion. He said his party would stage a sit-in outside the Governor’s House on Friday on the CPEC issue and that all political parties should join it. Mr Mushtaq warned if the federal government did not change its policy on the CPEC, then the JI would stage a dharna (sit-in) in Islamabad. Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2016
[/h] Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Chairperson Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed addressing a press conference at CM House. PHOTO: EXPRESS PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has threatened to take extreme steps if the federal government does not complete the western alignment of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on a priority basis.
This was said by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak at a news conference at his residence on Thursday following a meeting with Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Chairperson Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and other leaders. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: K-P digs deeper to alter course of outcome According to Khattak, it was mutually agreed at the all-parties conference on May 28, 2015 that the western route of CPEC would be built during the first phase on a priority basis. “However, it was later revealed the western route was not being constructed,” he said. “On the contrary, it’s only a road and a highway in place of the western route.” Khattak added, “We do not need a road. The provincial government can make roads with its own budget.” According to the CM, his government will vehemently reject the construction of just a road rather than a western alignment. “K-P needs a proper corridor with all components including railway tracks, LNG transmission lines and electricity projects,” he said. “If these components are not provided then the industrial parks and trade zones can’t be constructed along with it.” Awaiting reply: Centre seeks time over K-P’s letter on CPEC Left in the lurch Khattak added the federal government has limited all the components to the corridor between Gwadar and Rawalpindi. “Hazara will not have industrial parks and trade zones as the components of the corridor are limited till Rawalpindi,” he said. “The region will not be the beneficiary of the route.”
The CM said China is using the economic corridor project to develop its underdeveloped areas. “Many areas on the western route are underdeveloped, but have been ignored,” he said. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif doesn’t look beyond Lahore, Multan and other areas of Punjab. We, on the other hand, care about the country.” Khattak said extreme measures are justified as K-P is a war-torn region and the corridor could alter its fate. Raising objections The chief minister also voiced reservations over the no-objection certificates (NOC) required by foreigners to visit the K-P and asked the Centre to alter its policies. “If foreigners can visit Karachi where people are killed every day then why can’t they visit K-P, which is safer,” he said. “Foreign investors are willing to visit K-P but the federal government has created hurdles for them. No one has the right to stop someone from visiting our province.” K-P censures change in route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Khattak said the federal government should take steps to ensure the economic corridor passes through other areas if they think K-P is not safe. “They should take the corridor [elsewhere] if they think we are terrorists,” he said. Khattak said the provincial government would do its best to oppose the change in the corridor. Deliberations According to Hussain, the K-P government invited him to convey their grievances to the parliamentary committee, Parliament and the prime minister. “CPEC is not just a road,” he said. “It is a concept of economic development which has special economic zones, pipelines, technical training institutes and opportunities for the youth.” The senator said two important decisions were made the APC. The first was to construct the western route on a priority basis while the second was to constitute a parliamentary committee for CPEC.
The K-P government has invited Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal to the province to discuss the matter on January 6. Members of the parliamentary committee have also been invited to these deliberations.
[/h]PESHAWAR: Although PTI has long been promising the devolution of power to the grass-roots level, City District Government Peshawar members have insisted some key powers have been wrestled away by the K-P administration. A quick glance at the K-P Local Government (LG) Act 2013 and Rules of Business (RoB)corroborates this claim. A Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader and CDG opposition leader, Razaullah Khan Chaghermatti, told The Express Tribune that under the previous local government setup, the district nazim was the authority to prepare the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of government officers. He would also be responsible for the law and order situation. However, the powers were since given to the deputy commissioner. The RoBs suggest that the deputy commissioner (DC) was the authority to prepare of the ACR. In addition, powers of district development committee (DDCs) and all their financial matters were handed over to the DC, as stated in the RoBs. Another district government treasury member, requesting anonymity, said the RoBs were not in their favour. However, he and his peers chose to remain silent as the document was prepared by his own government. According to PTI’s manifesto, the party would strive to create a set of local institutions which would earn the trust and confidence of the people. Citizens and community institutions would be created to monitor the delivery of services and allow people to interact with the government so that the administration becomes more responsive and accountable. The manifesto was announced by PTI Chairman Imran Khan at a press conference in Lahore where he said local government elections would be held within 90 days if his government came into power. However, there were no polls till mid-2015 and the elected bodies took oath in August of the same year despite the fact that the ruling party took charge in 2013. Chaghermatti criticised the violence during the local government elections, adding nine people were killed and over 30 injured. He believed the PTI leadership in K-P misguided their central chairman over the LG setup. He said the deputy commissioner was also the posting and transferring authority under the current establishment which was unfair. “Seven months have been passed but the K-P government was unable to devolve power,” he said. “The local government system of 2002 in General Pervez Musharraf’s regime was better than the K-P LG Act-2013,” he said. Chaghermatti explained that 24 departments, including health, education and fisheries, came under the district set-up. He recalled that the DC and district police officer were subordinates of the district nazim at the time, while in the new set-up, the district nazim has no authority to post or transfer officials. Another district member from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, Rahim Dil Nawaz, said development activities still continued under the supervision of PTI lawmakers which was constitutionally against the rules. “The basic responsibility of lawmakers is to work on reforming legislation, introduce new laws and ensure the sovereignty of the region is protected.” He pointed out that development activities were the responsibility of the local government. He was also angered by the fact that the PTI-led government failed to provide staff and office space to town, village and neighbourhood nazims. Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan said he failed to understand the confusion among the elected representatives. “The Provincial Finance Commission released Rs4,293.5 million to district and town councils and dispersed Rs6,550 million to village and neighborhood for development activities.” In terms of salaries for the elected officials, the local government secretary sent a summary of Rs500 million to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and the amount would be released soon for village, neighbourhood, tehsil and district members. In addition, Rs1,750 million was issued to rent offices at village and neighbourhood councils. Published in The Express Tribune, January 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2016. http://tribune.com.pk/story/1020882...g-members-flay-pti-for-wrestling-away-powers/
[/h]PESHAWAR: City district nazim Muhammad Asim Khan has asked the deputy commissioner and police to cancel the no objection certificate of two stage shows over what he has cited as “vulgarity”. Asim Khan has also directed the Peshawar Development Authority and administration of all four towns to remove sign boards and posters of the stage shows from the city.
The nazim took the action following a written application which was submitted by Khalisa-I district member Malik Aman against organising the shows for “immorality”. District members also submitted visuals of the shows as evidence to the district nazim. The stage shows are being organised by Haji Nadar Khan and Musafir video centre, and the ticket costs Rs2,000 per person. In his application, Malik Aman stated, “We will not allow ruining the character of our youth by showing vulgar stage dramas,” He said the performances were being held at Sabrina and Aiana cinemas in Khyber Bazaar since start of 2016. He said local Pashto and Punjabi artists perform “vulgar” dances and use inappropriate words on stage. “Dance is strictly prohibited,” Aman stated in the application while referring to the NoC. He also mentioned the show organisers violated the rules of the NoC and failed to fulfil its requirements. The shows cancelled were Da Nawe Kall Tuhfa which roughly translates to New Year Gift and Masti Jenakai Pa Pekhawar Ki or the Crazy Girls in Peshawar. Published in The Express Tribune, January 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
