PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has approved KP Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Bill, 2025, for placement before the provincial assembly.
The proposed legislation introduces a modernised and rights based framework for addressing vagrancy in the province, replacing the existing legal framework introduced in 2020, read an official statement issued here on Feb 26.
The bill, approved during the cabinet meeting held with Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi in the chair, adopts a rehabilitation centred approach and expands the legal definitions of vagrancy to include organised and forced beggary while providing clear differentiation between vulnerable individuals and organised criminal networks.
The bill provides for the protection of children involved in beggary, prescribes penalties against exploitative practices, and establishes institutional mechanisms for policy coordination and oversight including a provincial steering committee.
It seeks reintegration of vulnerable individuals through rehabilitation and skill development programmes and establishment of a dedicated non lapsable rehabilitation fund.
Policy for procurement of wheat also okayed
“Provisions relating to after care and livelihood support have also been incorporated to facilitate sustainable reintegration and prevent relapse,” said Shafi Jan, the adviser to chief minister for information and public relations.
Sharing details of the cabinet meeting, he said that the cabinet approved Hybrid Wheat Procurement and Strategic Reserves Policy, 2026, as framework for future wheat procurement in the province.
He said that the policy envisaged a gradual transition from a state dominated procurement model towards a market-based wheat economy, supported by indicative pricing mechanisms to promote price stability.
“It also provides for the maintenance of strategic reserves to safeguard food security and encourages enhanced private sector participation in wheat procurement, storage and trading. The policy is expected to significantly reduce fiscal burden on provincial exchequer over time,” he said.
Mr Jan said that the cabinet also approved the proposal to take up wheat procurement-related liabilities amounting to Rs38.042 billion with federal government for adjustment against Passco liabilities of Rs41.97 billion, with the remaining balance of Rs3.928 billion to be settled in favour of Passco.
He stated that the cabinet also approved an allocation of Rs4,065.12 million to meet critical human resource requirements in health sector. It approved creation of 2,439 fixed pay positions for medical officers, dental surgeons and nurses to strengthen service delivery across public health facilities in the province.
He said that the cabinet authorised health department to undertake recruitment against those positions through walk-in interviews to be conducted by divisional level departmental selection committees in accordance with health department contract appointment of doctors fixed pay rules 2022 as amended in 2025.
He said that the cabinet approved a grant in aid of Rs196 million for provision of laptops to minority students enrolled in BS, MBBS and engineering, MPhil and MS and PhD programmes under Chief Minister’s Digital Inclusion Programme for Minority Students.
Mr Jan said that the cabinet approved proposed amendments to Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010, besides approved establishment of breast screening centres at five divisional headquarters.
“The initiative forms part of the government’s good governance roadmap, which envisages provision of mammography facilities at all divisional headquarters, and is aimed at ensuring equitable access to modern diagnostic services for women across the province,” he said.
The cabinet approved transfer of 15-kanal of land to health department for establishment of a nursing college in Upper Chitral, cost enhancement for the project titled establishment of women and children hospital in Sarai Naurang, Lakki Marwat, and provision of land for construction of a ladies and children park on Kohat Road, Peshawar.
Mr Jan stated that the cabinet approved funding arrangements for land acquisition for Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway. He added that the cabinet also approved transfer of 29-kanal and nine marla of state land for extension of Judicial Complex in Hangu.
He said that the cabinet approved extension of Tirah Model Financial Assistance Package to an additional 6,505 affected families in Khyber besides nomination of a private sector representative to Private Power and Infrastructure Board.
Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2026.
