KP cabinet okays tax relief for Malakand, ex-Fata

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet approved tax relief measures for service providers and industrial undertakings in Malakand division and the former tribal regions on Wednesday. One notification exempts local service providers from sales tax on services, while the other exempts industrial enterprises in those areas from withholding sales tax.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi spoke after the meeting, stating their revenue target for the current fiscal year was Rs180 billion, and that they were confident of achieving it. Afridi emphasized the importance of interacting with the public to understand ground realities and resolve problems. He also criticized the federal government and prison administration for failing to address former PTI leader Imran Khan's health concerns, urging Imran to be allowed to meet his doctors and family.

Afridi further revealed Imran had previously permitted individuals with falsified medical reports to travel abroad for treatment. The cabinet also approved increased funding for the Ehsaas Naujawan Programme, a new inter-departmental memorandum of understanding for reducing out-of-school children, and financial assistance for medical treatment of 21 patients.

Notably, compensation for civilian victims of militant attacks in Bajaur was increased, with legal heirs receiving a higher payout and those with major injuries receiving additional compensation.