KP to combat begging with rehabilitation-based legislation – S2S BLOG

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet has approved the KP Vagrancy Control and Rehabilitation Act 2025, which aims to tackle begging through a modern and rights-based approach. The proposed law will replace the 2020 framework, which focuses primarily on rehabilitation rather than punishment. It also clearly separates vulnerable individuals in need of support from organized crime groups involved in forced begging.

The bill includes measures to protect children involved in begging and establishes penalties for those who exploit vulnerable people. It also offers rehabilitation and skills development programs to help individuals rebuild their lives. A special rehabilitation fund will be established under provincial supervision to support these efforts.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi, approved the Hybrid Wheat Procurement Policy and Strategic Reserves for 2026. The policy aims to gradually transition from a government-controlled system to a market-based wheat economy, while maintaining strategic reserves to ensure food security. It also introduces indicative prices to stabilize wheat prices and encourages greater private sector participation in wheat procurement and storage.

The Cabinet approved adjustment of wheat procurement obligations worth Rs38.042 billion with the federal government against Passco dues of Rs41.97 billion. The remaining Rs3.928 billion will be paid to Passco. To improve healthcare, the cabinet has allocated Rs4.065 billion for hiring 2,439 medical officers, oral surgeons and nurses on permanent wages. The recruitment will be done through walk-in interviews as per the revised rules of the health department.

The Cabinet approved a grant of Rs196 million to provide laptops to minority students studying in higher education programs under the Chief Minister’s Digital Inclusion Programme. It also approved amendments to the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010. In addition, breast screening centers will be established at five divisional headquarters to improve women’s access to healthcare.

The Cabinet further approved the transfer of land for setting up a nursing college in Upper Chitral. It also approved an increase in the cost of the women’s and children’s hospital project in Sarai Naurang, Lakki Marwat, and the construction of a women’s and children’s park on Kohat Road in Peshawar.

The Cabinet approved financing to acquire land for the Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan highway.
It also gave the green light to the expansion of the judicial complex in Hangu. The Tirah model financial assistance package was extended to 6,505 additional families in Khyber. In addition, a private sector representative was nominated to the Private Power and Infrastructure Board.