Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, while addressing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, said that the draft of the Parliamentarians’ Privileges Bill approved by the provincial cabinet had been sent to the Provincial Assembly, where certain amendments were made. He noted that these amendments have been the subject of sustained criticism in the media over the past two to three days.
The Chief Minister said that, in this regard, he had met Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Babar Saleem Swati and directed him to convene a meeting of all parliamentary leaders in the Provincial Assembly to review the provisions of the bill that have drawn objections from the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the journalist community, and to consider the necessary revisions.
The Chief Minister said that Imran Khan had always promoted freedom of expression and believed that journalists should be free to criticise wherever they deemed necessary. He added that both he and his government are regularly criticised by journalists, while certain black channels also continue to spread misleading propaganda against the provincial government. However, he emphasized that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has never taken any unlawful action against anyone.
He said that even if false propaganda is disseminated, the government pursues legal action only through the courts. He added that while incidents of enforced disappearances, violence and harassment of critical journalists are reported in other provinces, no such tactics are employed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Chief Minister said that currently, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is the only provincial legislature in Pakistan that has been established through a genuine public mandate. Therefore, he said, public opinion and the public interest will remain paramount in every decision. He expressed the hope that the amendments made to the Parliamentarians’ Privileges Bill would be reviewed and that all future decisions would be taken in accordance with the public interest and the will of the people.
Briefing the media on the key decisions taken during the meeting, Minister for Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan said the Cabinet approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Policy 2026, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Occupational Safety and Health Rules, 2026, and amendments to the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, as well as the Provincial Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969, to revise and rationalize the Personalized Registration Mark (PRM) regime.
The health policy, he said, envisions a healthier Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where every citizen enjoys equitable access to quality healthcare, contributing to healthier lives, resilient communities and shared prosperity. Its mission is to build a resilient, people-centred health system through strong leadership, quality service delivery, sustainable financing, innovation, digital transformation, a skilled health workforce, evidence-based decision-making and strategic partnerships.
The policy focused on strengthening governance and accountability through enhanced regulatory oversight, a robust performance management framework, digital reporting and monitoring systems, and the strengthening of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Care Commission. It prioritizes revitalizing primary healthcare by expanding Primary Health Care (PHC) services, upgrading Newborn Care facilities, strengthening the Lady Health Workers Programme, extending Sehat Card coverage to OPD services, and introducing school health services. The policy also aims to improve secondary and tertiary healthcare through the establishment of ICU, CCU, trauma and burn centres, expansion of palliative care and telemedicine, outsourcing of poor performing health facilities, strengthening of Sehat Card Plus, inclusion of geriatric medicine for elderly patients, and reforms in Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs).
The policy emphasizes protecting families from catastrophic health expenditures, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs, mobilizing domestic resources, and generating additional health financing through taxation. It also prioritizes addressing shortages of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, digitizing the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS), improving medical education, expanding continuous professional development and revamping allied health professional and nursing education. Other key priorities include ensuring uninterrupted availability of essential medicines and vaccines through stronger procurement and supply chain systems, enhancing disease surveillance and emergency preparedness, strengthening compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR), and promoting a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by addressing nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and climate resilience through cross-sectoral collaboration.
According to Shafi Jan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Occupational Safety and Health Rules, 2026 require employers to develop and implement workplace safety and health policies, ensure safe working environments, and adopt structured systems for identifying, assessing and controlling occupational hazards. The framework introduces a hierarchy of control measures, including engineering controls and the mandatory provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), while requiring the appointment of Safety and Health Representatives in establishments employing 50 or more workers and qualified Safety and Health Officers in establishments with 100 or more workers. The rules also mandate worker training, awareness and participation in occupational safety matters, establish requirements for emergency preparedness, first aid arrangements and medical surveillance, clearly define the responsibilities of employers, workers and other stakeholders through robust compliance and enforcement mechanisms, and provide for the establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Occupational Safety and Health Council.
The Cabinet, he said, allowed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Crane Foundation to strengthen the conservation of crane populations and their habitats in the province. He said the partnership is expected to enhance scientific research and promote evidence-based wildlife management, improve community livelihoods through conservation and eco-tourism initiatives, strengthen enforcement and inter-agency coordination to combat wildlife crime, and reinforce Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s position as a leader in biodiversity conservation.
The Minister said the Cabinet also approved the expansion of Sifwat Ghayur Shaheed Memorial Hospital (SGSMH) in Peshawar to enhance healthcare services and improve patient care. It further approved the transfer and allotment of state land at the Jamrud Complex for the establishment of an Excise Police Station in District Khyber. The Cabinet also sanctioned a special compensation package of Rs. 10 million for the family of late Dr. Khursheed Alam, and approved financial assistance of Rs. 3.5 million for the medical treatment of the daughter of Mr. Iqbal Khan, a resident of Bajaur. In addition, the Cabinet approved special compensation for the victims of the Peshawar-bound Balochistan bus accident. The Chief Minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure the immediate disbursement of the compensation to the affected families without delay.
