Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has directed authorities to convert one of the two helicopters of the provincial government into an air ambulance.
During a cabinet meeting in the federal capital, the CM said a case should be put up to him for the conversion of the Ml-17 helicopter into an air ambulance, while the other helicopter, the Ecureuil AS 350 83, would be used for official use, according to an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Monday.
It added that the cabinet approved the “essential expenditure” of the government for the current month, directing all departments to finalise their budget proposals for the next financial year.
The expenditure approval was required as the budget for the current financial year was approved by the last caretaker cabinet at different intervals in the absence of the elected provincial assembly.
Cabinet asks all depts to finalise budget proposals
The cabinet approved amendments to the NWFP Ministers Salaries, Allowances and Privileges Act, 1975, as well as revisions of the terms and conditions of the appointment of advisers and special assistants to the chief minister.
The amendments were carried out to “facilitate [the provision of] accommodation for the ministers due to the shortage of government residences and the unavailability of rented homes as per the rates fixed in the Act,” according to the statement.
Adviser to the chief minister on information and public relations Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said the cabinet decided that the ministers, who did not belong to Peshawar and had no official residence in the city, would be paid Rs200,000 each as house rent.
He said that keeping in view the “backwardness and security situation” of tribal districts, the cabinet approved Rs503 million each for the deputy commissioners of tribal districts for the next three years.
“The expenditure will go through the process of auditing, and nothing will be kept secret,” he said.
Mr Saif said Rs40 million would go to Bajaur district, Rs200 million to Khyber, Rs25 million to Kurram, Rs150 million to Mohmand, Rs40 million to North Waziristan, Rs19 million to Orakzai, Rs45 million to Upper South Waziristan and Rs15 million to Lower South Waziristan Lower.
