KP govt approves draft bill for establishment of PPP Authority

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government approved a draft bill on Tuesday for the creation of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority. The legislation, titled the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority Bill, 2026, was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi. The bill will establish an independent authority with a chief executive officer (CEO) who is either a civil servant with BPS-19 or higher status, or a private-sector professional.

The authority will have a two-tier approval system involving an apex body and an executive committee, a project appraisal wing, regional and divisional-level PPP contracting authorities, and representation from political, official, and private-sector experts. The government also increased the Ehsaas Naujawan Programme budget from Rs3 billion to Rs5 billion to support youth entrepreneurship, self-employment, financial inclusion, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The provincial government approved a one-time grant of Rs188.756 million for model schools in merged districts, additional funding for 21 deserving medical patients, and enhanced compensation for civilian victims of targeted militant action. The government also approved a new textbook system from KG to Class V, and a grant-in-aid of Rs60 million for the Chitral Langland School & College.