Bureau Report
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet Monday authorized Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in connection with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) agreement under the shared fiscal responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments.
Briefing newsmen about the decisions of cabinet meeting, provincial ministers Taimur Salim Jhagra and Anwar Zeb Khan, and Special Assistant to the KP CM on Information and Public Relations Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the agreement with the IMF was a collective responsibility, however, the government would protect the interests of the province.
They said the people of merged tribal areas would not be deprived of the free treatment facility as the chief minister had approved to continue the Sehat Card Programme for them within the province’s own resources.
Necessary arrangements were being made to continue the Sehat Card Scheme till the funds were transferred from the federal government, they added.
They said vide a letter on June 29, the KP government had urged the federal government to continue monthly payment under the Net Hydle Profit, stopped since April 2022.
They further informed that the cabinet approved to declare 24,074 hectares (59,489 acres) area in South Waziristan as Gomal Zam Dam Wetland Conservancy to intensively protect the wildlife resources as well as enhance the population of the target wildlife species.
The site had great potential to provide habitats to the migratory as well as native birds and animals like wolf, jackal, jungle cat, rock pigeon, partridges, chukar, eurasian sparrow hawk, common kingfisher, green bee-eater and crested lark etc, the minister added.
The cabinet, they said, also approved a sum of Rs 29.389 million as supplementary grant to be paid to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Peshawar to clear the outstanding dues from 2001-22 on account of lease money of the Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI) Pirsabak, Nowshera.
In May, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had refused to play its part in fulfilling any of the promises made by the federal government in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Provincial Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra had said that the province will not be bound to comply by any commitment between the federal government and the IMF regarding the province. Jhagra said that KP government will also not accept any cut in funds by the federal government.
The minister had said that the federal coalition government did not take KP government into confidence regarding the recent talks with the IMF. He said that if the federal government had granted any assurance to IMF from KP side, then the provincial government is not bound to fulfill this role.
In addition the minister had said that the federal government will not be allowed to take back surplus funds of the province. He said, “The people of the province have exclusive right on KP’s funds. The center government cannot withdraw these funds under provincial autonomy after the 18th amendment.”
