KP cabinet approves sales tax relief for Malakand, tribal areas, clears Rs5 billion youth programme boost

According to Profit by Pakistan Today, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet approved two draft notifications giving sales tax relief to service providers and industrial units in Malakand division and the former tribal areas. One removes sales tax from services supplied locally, while the other frees industrial firms from having to deduct sales tax at source. The package also covers schooling, youth jobs and medical care.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the provincial government is targeting Rs180 billion in revenue for this fiscal year and is confident of reaching it through steady efforts. Shafi Jan, the minister for information and public relations, told reporters the cabinet had raised funding for the Ehsaas Naujawan Programme from Rs3 billion to Rs5 billion, citing continued public demand and more applications.

The cabinet cleared a one-time Rs188.8 million grant for model schools in merged districts this fiscal year, plus a separate Rs60 million for Langlands School and College in Chitral. Financial aid of Rs66.6 million was also approved to help 21 patients with medical costs, while a memorandum of understanding between departments aims to reduce the number of out-of-school children. Textbooks for grades KG to V will be semester-wise and jacketed from the 2027-28 academic year, with grades VI to VIII following later. Students in grades 9 to 12 will get all textbooks free, and the bundling model is meant to lighten school bags.