KP Cabinet Approves Wheat Purchase, Reforms and Funding

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved the procurement of 225,000 metric tonnes of wheat from public sector growers at a support price of Rs3,500 per 40 kilogrammes, with a total financial commitment of Rs19.68 billion.

The decision was taken during the 52nd cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi.

The cabinet also sanctioned digital transformation measures for civil registration services, enabling online registration and issuance of certificates for births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and dissolution of marriages.

In the agriculture and research sector, approval was granted for land transfer to establish a Temperate Rice Research Station in Malakand Division.

The cabinet further approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Action Board (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing provisions for political oversight through a Climate Council and the establishment of an Emergency, Rehabilitation and Resilience Fund.

A grant of Rs112.5 million was allocated for the Chief Minister’s Digital Inclusion Programme aimed at minority students, while the initial funding for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rehabilitation of Minorities Endowment Fund was increased from Rs200 million to Rs300 million.

The cabinet also approved a compensation package providing Rs2.5 million to the families of deceased individuals and Rs1 million to those injured in incidents reported in Mardan, Nowshera, and Haripur.

In the education sector, Rs168.10 million was sanctioned as a grant-in-aid for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation.

Additional approvals included financial rules for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servants Housing Foundation, amendments to service rules of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board, and the re-engagement of school leaders on a contractual basis.

Within the health sector, the cabinet approved the upgradation of Miangul Abdul Haq Jahanzeb Kidney Hospital Swat into a specialised kidney transplant centre, supported by an additional grant of Rs180 million. It also endorsed the integration of the Institute of Mental Health Sciences Peshawar as a constituent unit of MTI Hayatabad Medical Complex.

Separately, the cabinet expressed concern over ongoing gas shortages in the province, despite local production of approximately 400 MMCFD against a requirement of 150 MMCFD.

The chief minister noted that while the province supplies surplus gas to the federation and other regions, it continues to face load shedding affecting households, businesses, and the CNG sector. He indicated that further measures would be considered if the issue remains unresolved and announced plans to convene a jirga of tribal elders and political stakeholders to deliberate on the matter.