PESHAWAR - In the wake of inability of Wood Working Center of Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) in the procurement of furniture as per requirements of various departments, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has exempted the education and health departments from restriction regarding direct procurement of furniture in the open market.
The SIDB centre lacks capacity of timely procurement of furniture for different provincial departments and institutions, which was created great embarrassment to the public sector education institutions and health facilities in provision of required furniture in proper time.
Therefore, the government has decided to exempt both these departments from restriction of direct procurement of furniture from open market, said provincial spokesman Mian Iftikhar Hussain, while briefing the media persons regarding the decisions of 55th provincial cabinet meeting held under Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti in chair here on Monday.
Mian Iftikhar said that the mechanism and procedure would be adopted for keeping transparency in procurement of furniture from open market.
He said the issue was raised due to growing demands of furniture at public sector education institutions, but the SIDB center has failed to meet timely requirements of furniture at education institutions and health facilities in the province.
Regarding the other decisions of the cabinet meeting, he informed that an equal basic compensation package for calamity-hit people, has been approved, according to which Rs0.1million would be extended on the death of member of a family, while Rs75,000 to minor injured people.
Similarly, Rs50,000 would be given on house damage, while Rs30,000 has been fixed for partially damages during the natural disastrous and calamities.
Mian Iftikhar said that a committee was constituted under chairmanship of KP secretary finance with other members of secretaries from different departments, including higher education, administration, and local government, to put their report before Chief Minister regarding creation of Institute of Peace and Conflict Management (IPCOM) in the province.
He said the draft proposal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety Authority Bill has approved by thoroughly reviewed, and directed the Additional Chief Secretary to again review the bills, and present before the Chief Minister in form a summary.
The meeting, he said also thoroughly reviewed a report regarding inclusion of BSP-20 posts of different department into Schedule of Posts, and after reviewing it, given formally approval.
Regarding the post 18th amendments steps, he said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Fetilizers Control (amendments) Act 2011, and Agriculture, Livestock, Produce Market (amendments) Act 2011 also discussed in the meeting, but, he said, the meeting decided that there was no need of such drafts, after approval of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Laws (amendments) Act 2011.
The meeting, he said, given approval for enhancement of penalties of aerial firing, after reviewing relevant laws for amendments.
According to the decision, he said those who were committed aerial firing, will face maximum one year imprisonment, and minimum one month, and Rs10,000 will be paid and Rs30,000 as penalty for this crime.