CM unveils plans for city's revamp
Significant infrastructure upgrades are planned for the metropolis, including road rehabilitation and improvements to sewerage and water supply across multiple districts. CM Murad Ali Shah announced this during budget speech.
Urban transport in the city will expand with Pakistan's first 50 electric buses, with plans to add another 100 by August 2025. Progress on the city's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects includes the Yellow Line nearing completion and the Red Line being over 50 per cent complete.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Safe City project is making strides with the implementation of AI-integrated CCTV systems and expanded coverage. Progress is also being made on major projects such as the Korangi Causeway Bridge and improvements to Shahrah-e-Bhutto. New ADP initiatives will target heritage restoration, enhance business areas, and facilitate crucial road constructions.
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Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
KP approves funds for procurement of buses for BRT
PESHAWAR: The 34th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet was held here on Friday with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair. Cabinet members, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Administrative Secretaries and Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the meeting. The cabinet approved the procurement of 50 additional identical diesel-hybrid buses for BRT Peshawar at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.2 billion. It is worth noting that TransPeshawar initially procured 220 buses, with 24 more added in 2022, bringing the fleet to 244. However, due to growing public demand and the expansion of operational routes from six to eight - including the recent addition of DR-11, DR-13, and DR-14 - the procurement of more buses has become essential. The cabinet approved the merger of ADP Scheme campuses of the Model Institute for State Children 'ZamungKor' located in Swat, D.I. Khan, Abbottabad, and the Girls Campus in Peshawar into the already functional autonomous body of the ZamungKor Model Institute for State Children, Peshawar. Currently, 600 children are enrolled at the Peshawar institute, while an additional 425 students are enrolled across the four ADP scheme campuses. The cabinet approved signing of agreement between Pak Qatar Asset Management as the 13th Asset Management Company under CP Fund Rules 2022. To address the issues of unsustainable pension expenses, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa initiated pension reforms in 2015, which included the transition from an unfunded pension system to a funded pension scheme. Consequently, Contributory Provident Fund was introduced. Under the new system, contributions from both employees and government are invested in the market through professional asset management companies registered with the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). In January 2022, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa began entering into agreements with asset management companies having SECP voluntary pension scheme licenses under the Contributory Provident Fund Rules, 2022. Consequently, 12 companies entered into agreement with the government to manage the Pension Fund. The cabinet approved amendments in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Public Services Act, 2014. The purpose of the amendment is to simply notifying Public Services, coordination between the Commission and Departments, clarification of the vague provision for e-governance, provision for public oversight and accountability of the Commission. Moreover, provision of reasonable accommodation has been added to achieve international benchmarks by providing statutory provision for facilitation of the marginalized segments of the society. The cabinet approved amendment to Sub Rule (07) Rule 11 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Private Partnership (selection of Private Partner) Rules, 2021. The rule pertains to the response time of bidders provides a time frame of sixty (60) days for a bidder to respond to a bid. As per the amendment the RFP shall be disseminated amongst the pre-qualified or shortlisted bidders, as the case may be, with a minimum response time to thirty (30) days. It constituted a committee to deliberate on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Lands Utilization and Management Bill, 2025 and present recommendations to the cabinet. The cabinet approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Non-Governmental Organization (working in the field of human rights) Rules, 2025. The cabinet approved a Non-ADP scheme with a total cost of Rs. 124.016 million for the current financial year for resumption of salaries of contract staff of Provincial Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (PERRA). The approval was also granted to issue termination notices to the contract staff of PERRA from 1st July 2025. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Cabinet okays uplift, pension reforms
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, in its 34th meeting held on Friday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, approved a series of development initiatives and administrative reforms aimed at strengthening infrastructure, healthcare, public service delivery, and pension management across the province. One of the major decisions included the approval for procurement of 50 additional diesel-hybrid buses for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system at a cost of Rs3.2 billion. This move comes in response to the growing public demand and recent expansion of BRT routes from six to eight, including new routes DR-11, DR-13, and DR-14. With this addition, the BRT fleet will grow beyond the current 244 buses, improving service frequency and coverage. The cabinet also approved the merger of four ADP scheme campuses of the "ZamungKor" Model Institute for State Children in Swat, DI Khan, Abbottabad, and Peshawar Girls Campus into the main Peshawar-based autonomous body. The merger aims to streamline operations and improve care for over 1,000 children currently enrolled across the facilities. In a significant financial reform, the cabinet approved Pak Qatar Asset Management as the 13th asset management company under the Contributory Provident (CP) Fund Rules 2022. The CP Fund, introduced in 2015, is part of pension reforms shifting from an unfunded to a funded pension model, ensuring sustainability and investment of pension contributions through SECP-registered firms. The cabinet passed several legal amendments, including revisions to the K-P Right to Public Services Act, 2014. The updates aim to enhance e-governance, coordination, and public accountability, while also introducing provisions for marginalized communities. Amendments were also made to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Public Private Partnership Rules 2021, reducing the bidder response time from 60 to 30 days, to accelerate project delivery. Health sector improvements were also prioritized, with the cabinet approving enhanced funding for several ongoing projects. These include an increase in cost for Balakot's Category-C Hospital from Rs575 million to Rs924.596 million, conversion of 50 rural health centers into 24/7 facilities (Rs1.7 billion), and upgrade of 200 Basic Health Units for round-the-clock maternal care (Rs2.96 billion). Additionally, a Rs346 million grant was sanctioned for modern equipment at Peshawar Institute of Cardiology. The cabinet also approved a non-ADP scheme worth Rs124 million to resume salaries for Provincial Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (PERRA) staff and directed the issuance of termination notices to contract employees from July 2025. Other approvals included financial assistance of Rs10 million for a cancer patient, appointment of Rubab Mehdi as K-P's Ombudsperson, and inclusion of Makniyal in Urban Area Development Authority Haripur. Further allocations included Rs1.5 billion for transformer repair, Rs1.041 billion for settling PESCO dues, and Rs400 million for irrigation sector maintenance. The cabinet lifted a vehicle procurement ban to allow two official vehicles for District and Sessions Judges in Mohmand and Khyber and approved outsourcing of tobacco cess collection (excluding factories). The cabinet also sanctioned the hiring of legal counsel for an anti-narcotics case in the Supreme Court and reviewed land utilization and timber trade mechanisms in Upper Kohistan and Chitral.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Punjab sports-related initiatives highlighted
LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the Punjab government aims to engage youth in positive activities through sports and sports-related initiatives and youth empowerment plans included in Punjab's Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2025–26. Speaking at a news conference here Thursday, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar stated that a budget of Rs7.6 billion has been allocated for the Sports and Youth Affairs Department this year. He emphasized that the Punjab government's top priority is to provide opportunities to the youth and ensure the development of modern sports infrastructure. He informed the media that under last year's 'Khelta Punjab' programme, more than 120,000 athletes participated. This year, the initiative is being expanded further with talent hunt events being organized across districts, and significant work is already underway to rehabilitate and improve existing sports infrastructure. The Provincial Minister also shared that the first phase of the Chief Minister's Internship Programme has been successfully completed, benefiting 6,000 youth with a monthly stipend of Rs25,000. In Phase Two, the number of interns will be increased to 10,000, and the stipend will be raised to Rs60,000 per month. He further revealed that for the first time in the province's history, a Sports Endowment Fund has been established, under which athletes are being supported with funds of Rs30,000, Rs50,000, and Rs70,000. A Self-Sustaining System is also being introduced to address salary-related issues of sports department employees on a permanent basis, he added. He also highlighted that under the up-gradation of Punjab Stadium, Nishtar Park, Lahore, increasing seating capacity from 6,000 to 10,000. Scheme of Construction of a 102-room hotel/hostel at Nishtar Park Sports Complex at a cost of Rs800 million also approved. He also briefed about schemes of development of an Indoor Sports Arena for table tennis, snooker, board games, indoor rowing, revival of the International Boxing Arena, construction of a baseball ground in Lahore, rehabilitation and construction of Velodrome, Swimming Pool, Indoor Volleyball Complex, construction of Padel Tennis Courts in Lahore, Multan, and Sialkot while multipurpose Sports Facilities will be established along Rahim Yar Khan, Muridke, and Narowal Road. The Minister emphasized that the Punjab Government is working to revive traditional sports like Kabaddi, reconnecting the youth with cultural roots. He said that more projects will be included in the upcoming fiscal year and equal sports opportunities will be provided in every district of the province. Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar concluded by stating, 'Our goal is not just to build infrastructure but to ensure its sustainable and autonomous management.' Under the vision of the Chief Minister, every possible step is being taken to empower youth, promote sports, and prepare future champions. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
