The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved the formation of a special police force for Parachinar to secure the main highway, a vital route for Kurram district residents.
This decision was made during the cabinet’s 19th meeting on Monday, chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in Peshawar. The meeting was attended by cabinet members, the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, and administrative officials.
The cabinet was briefed on the challenges faced by Kurram district residents, including restricted road connectivity. To address this, the government initiated a helicopter service and disbursed compensation for losses. As part of the measures, the special police force for Parachinar will comprise 399 personnel dedicated to ensuring the safe movement of residents. In addition, an FIA cell will be established to monitor and block social media accounts that spread sectarian hate, a major contributor to unrest in the area.
CM Gandapur’s remarks Chief Minister Gandapur clarified that the situation in Kurram is not linked to terrorism but is a local dispute between two groups. He stressed that most residents seek peace, but certain factions are inciting violence. The creation of the special police force for Parachinar is a significant step to restore normalcy and address the security concerns of the region.
The Chief Minister also confirmed that no operations are planned in Tirah or Jani Khel. ### Other cabinet decisions The cabinet approved several measures, including: – Christmas funding: Rs 40 mn (approximately $143,000) allocated for 80 churches, with Rs 500,000 (approximately $1,785) per church. Christian government employees received advance salaries.
Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway: Approval for the 365-kilometer motorway under a public-private partnership, with directions to arrange funds for land acquisition. – Medical and dental colleges: Rs 300 mn (approximately $1.07 mn) sanctioned for colleges at Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology in Haripur.
University pensions: Funds approved for salaries and pension arrears of public-sector universities.
Employee upgrades: Ex-FATA Development Corporation employees upgraded by one grade. Policy amendments and resolutions The cabinet approved sending a provincial resolution to the federal government condemning alleged harassment of Pashtun traders by Islamabad Police, citing Article 33 of the Constitution. Amendments to the civil servant rules ensure district cadre positions (BS-3 to BS-15) are reserved for candidates domiciled in their respective districts.
Tourism initiatives Loans of up to Rs 3 mn (approximately $10,715) per individual will be provided through the Bank of Khyber to promote community-based tourism. Areas like Dir, Chitral, Swat, and Mansehra will receive priority under this program.
Financial allocations Development funds for districts were approved, with 60% allocated for municipal services, including water and sanitation, and 40% for social services. Rs 250 mn (approximately $892,857) was sanctioned for the establishment of the Water and Sanitation Services Company in Haripur. The cabinet also approved the transfer of Rs 30 bn (approximately $107 mn) to the Debt Management Fund during the current fiscal year and a special grant of Rs 14,338,864 (approximately $51,245) for six contract employees of the Police Public School. The approval of the special police force for Parachinar underscores the government’s commitment to security and development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
