KP Cabinet orders review of controversial ‘Privileges Bill’, approves health policy 2026

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet on Wednesday decided to revisit controversial amendments to the proposed Parliamentarians’ Privileges Bill following public criticism, while approving the province’s Health Policy 2026, new occupational safety rules and a series of administrative and welfare measures.
Chairing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said the draft Parliamentarians’ Privileges Bill approved by the cabinet had been sent to the Provincial Assembly, where several amendments were introduced.
He noted that some of those changes had come under sustained criticism from the public and the media over the past few days.
The chief minister said he had met Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and directed him to convene a meeting of all parliamentary leaders to review the provisions of the bill that had drawn objections from the public and the journalist community, with a view to making necessary revisions.
Mr Afridi said his government believed in freedom of expression, recalling that PTI founder Imran Khan had always upheld the right of journalists to criticise governments.
He said criticism of his government was welcomed and that any action against false or defamatory content would only be pursued through legal channels. He maintained that, unlike some other provinces, KP had not resorted to enforced disappearances, violence or harassment against journalists.
Stressing that the provincial assembly represented a genuine public mandate, he said public opinion and public interest would remain central to government decision-making.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Information Minister Shafi Jan said the cabinet approved the KP Health Policy 2026, aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare through stronger governance, improved service delivery, digital transformation, sustainable financing and expansion of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services.
The policy also envisages strengthening the Sehat Card programme, expanding outpatient coverage, improving maternal and child healthcare, establishing trauma, burn and intensive care centres, promoting telemedicine, addressing shortages of healthcare professionals and improving the supply of essential medicines and vaccines.
The cabinet also approved the KP Occupational Safety and Health Rules, 2026, making it mandatory for employers to adopt workplace safety policies, assess occupational risks, provide protective equipment and appoint safety representatives and officers in medium and large industrial establishments.
Mr Jan said the cabinet further approved amendments to the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, and the Provincial Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969, to rationalise the personalised vehicle registration mark regime.
Among other decisions, the cabinet authorised the Wildlife Department to sign a memorandum of understanding with the International Crane Foundation to strengthen crane conservation and biodiversity protection in the province.
The meeting also approved the expansion of Sifwat Ghayur Shaheed Memorial Hospital in Peshawar, the transfer of state land at the Jamrud Complex for the establishment of an Excise Police Station in Khyber district, a Rs10 million compensation package for the family of late Dr Khursheed Alam, Rs3.5 million in financial assistance for the medical treatment of a resident of Bajaur’s daughter, and compensation for victims of the Peshawar-bound Balochistan bus accident.
The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure immediate disbursement of compensation to all affected families.