Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday voiced serious concern over delays in the completion of cadet colleges and inadequate facilities in educational institutions, while the government introduced the Healthcare Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026 aimed at strengthening regulation and monitoring of health services.
During Question Hour, lawmakers questioned the prolonged delay in several cadet college projects approved across the province.
Parliamentary Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Rajab Ali Abbasi said cadet colleges had been approved in Swat, Sararogha, Wana, Mardan, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan over the past decade.
He said only the Swat Cadet College was currently operational, while the other projects were at different stages. Mardan Cadet College was expected to become operational in January 2027, whereas feasibility work on the Dera Ismail Khan project was still under way.
PPP Parliamentary Leader Ahmad Kundi criticised the slow pace of development, pointing out that the Lakki Marwat project had been approved in 2016 but construction had yet to begin. He questioned whether the government was giving due priority to the projects.
The House also expressed concern over the condition of educational institutions in remote areas.
MPA Sajjadullah highlighted the poor state of Button Degree College in Kohistan, saying inadequate staffing had affected academic activities and forced students to travel to Mansehra and Abbottabad.
Law Minister Aftab Alam said eight teachers were currently serving at the college but acknowledged difficulties in attracting staff to remote areas.
He said the government had decided to recruit local people on a fixed-pay contractual basis to address the shortage.
Members also called for a more inclusive education system for children with special needs. PML-N MPA Amina Sardar urged the government to develop specialised curricula and strengthen the availability of trained teachers and facilities for such students.
The Assembly was informed that 248 special children appeared in the 2025 board examinations, with pass rates varying across the province.
The parliamentary secretary said the government was providing necessary facilities to special children enrolled in regular schools.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over vacant classrooms, staffing shortages and transparency in the teachers’ e-transfer system.
Panel of Chairmen Muhammad Anwar Khan directed the government to give priority to funding for education and health sectors.
In a separate development, Law Minister Aftab Alam introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Healthcare Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Assembly.
The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the powers and functioning of the Healthcare Commission and improve regulation, transparency and monitoring of healthcare services in the province.
The Panel of Chairmen referred the bill to the relevant standing committee and directed it to submit its report within 20 days.
