خیبرپختونخواہ احتساب کمیشن اگلے ماہ سے کام کرنا شروع کریگا: پرویز خٹک

KP Ehtesab Commission to be operational from next month: Khattak

PESHAWAR: KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that independent accountability commission has receiving complaints against prominent figures and will become operational from next month.

He said Anti-Corruption Establishment has also been made effective, which has started the accountability process and during last one month corruption cases have been registered against 200 corrupt officials.

Talking to a delegation of journalists which called on him here under the leadership of president, Nowshera Press Club, Mushtaq Ahmad Paracha and general Secretary, Noor Khaliq, he said that the during the recent visit to Peshawar, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been told about their apprehensions and reservations.

He said the provincial government will continue its struggle for achieving constitutional right over its resources and net profit on electricity, saying the matter of the ignoring of the province in mega projects would be taken up in the Council of Common Interest (CCI). The prime minister, he said has once again committed and assured the resolution of the genuine problems of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the passage of the budget. He said that the PTI government has full belief in democracy and free media.

He said the provincial government in the budget for financial year 2014-15 has introduced cash card for poor families, which will be issued on the basis of the list of card of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He said that an agreement for provision of food items on concessional prices to poor had already been signed with Utility Stores Corporation (USC).

He said that the IDPs of North Waziristan will be given monthly house rent and Ramazan Package for which a hefty amount of Rs.350 million had already been transferred to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). He said that the amount will be distributed in a fair and transparent manner.

On this occasion, the chief minister handed over a cheque of Endowment Grant for the welfare of the journalists of Nowshera Press Club and said that for the strengthening of the press clubs and standing of journalists on their own feet the provincial government is introducing such formula under Endowment Fund under which a hefty amount would be released for the welfare of journalists to all press clubs of the province, whose earning will resolve all genuine problems of the local journalists.

The chief minister said that the previous governments released funds sufficient only for the annual expenses of press clubs. But, he said they are evolving such a policy, which will turn press clubs self-sufficient. He said that a hefty amount has been allocated, which will resolve healthcare, accidental death, looking after the children of journalists. For this purpose, he said that an amount of Rs.50 million each has been allocated both in current and next financial year.

Pervez Khattak said that journalism is a responsible profession and they welcome positive criticism and never dictated to media. He said they feel happiness over the pinpointing of their mistakes. However, they could not be coerced through yellow journalism and blackmailing, saying generally he had remained aloof from media. But, now when it is the requirement of his government and post, therefore, he is giving all possible time to media.

He said that the country in general and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular is passing through a critical juncture, adding like government, military and agencies the media also have the responsibility. He said that we should have to keep our national and provincial interest atop, which is also our constitutional obligation.

To a question, he ruled out any compromise on the rights of the province. He said the rehabilitation of IDPs is the responsibility of federal government. However, he said the provincial government despite limited resources is extending full cooperation. He said federal government should frame such policies, which will remove the deprivation of small provinces.

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