PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet in its last meeting on Thursday approved the labour and child labour policies as well as changes in financial powers for ensuring good governance.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak presided over the meeting.
An official handout said Labour Policy had been devised keeping in view international standards and after consultation with other stakeholders. It claimed the policy would ensure far-reaching steps for the welfare of labour community.
The provincial cabinet also approved the Child Labour Policy. It was claimed this policy was the first of its kind in the country and had been introduced by the PTI government.
A handout said the policy would discourage child labour and help in preparing solid strategy for preventing the factors responsible for child labour.
The cabinet also approved giving share from Tobacco Development Cess to the Swabi University. It may be mentioned that Swabi district is one of the biggest producers of tobacco in the country.
The constitution of a committee for making necessary amendments in the laws of the minerals and forest departments was also approved for making recommendations after reviewing the present laws.
The provincial cabinet while principally approving the lease of Serena Hotel in Swat directed the concerned departments to review the legal aspects of the matter in consultation with the Law Department and then decide the extension in the present lease or awarding a new lease.
The meeting also approved the provision of timely royalty for carrying forward development strategy in the gas producing areas. Approval was also accorded to conducting examinations through ETEA for ensuring merit and transparency in recruitment.
To ensure better breeding and growth of livestock and to provide alternate sources for earning to the public, the cabinet approved the livestock policy 2018. In his remarks, the chief minister stressed the need for benefiting from international research in the livestock sector. He directed preparation of a comprehensive strategy within two months to ensure implementation of the policy.
The cabinet under the Industrial Policy 2016 approved the extension of incentives for the industries till 2019. The cabinet declared that there was no need of obtaining no objection certificate for establishment of industries except in certain restricted sectors.
The cabinet after minor changes approved amendments in the Journalists Endowment Fund in order to make it journalists-friendly so that effective steps could be taken for the welfare of working journalists.
The cabinet also approved taking 384 kanals of land on lease for Nowshera Technical University and its attached colleges and schools and another 135 kanals of land at Azakhel.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that the PTI-led coalition government inherited terrorism-hit province and was confronted with the challenge of restoration of peace and reviving public trust in government institutions.
“PTI with public support and cooperation of bureaucracy put the things on track, strengthened institutions, depoliticised the police, ensured meritocracy and transparency,” he said, adding, “We are proud of leaving the best system for the next government.”
The chief minister said he was confident of breaking the past traditions in the province and regaining power for the second consecutive term.
