Key Decisions of the First Board Meeting of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority Revealed

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Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator

Peshawar: The minutes of the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority have surfaced, revealing key decisions taken during the authority’s initial operational phase regarding recruitment, employee status, financial powers, procurement, salaries, and Tourism Police.

According to the document, the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held on March 17, 2020, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Senior officials from relevant provincial departments, members of the Board and the Director General of the Authority attended the meeting.

Recruitment to be conducted through competitive process

The minutes clearly state that, under the law, all appointments in the Authority were to be made through a competitive process. In the case of a civil servant selected for a post, the appointment was to be made through transfer or deputation.

According to the document, legal and technical advice was obtained from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (KPPRA) on February 21, 2020, regarding the hiring of a testing agency.

The KPPRA advice stated that the Authority should opt for open competition under the least-cost method for hiring the testing agency.

The Board approved the initiation of the recruitment process on a fast-track basis. It was decided that ETEA would be given priority if it had the capacity and capability to complete the process within the required timeline. Otherwise, the testing agency was to be selected through open competition in accordance with KPPRA advice.

Three-year minimum contract period approved

The Board also approved the initial human resource structure and sanctioned strength of the Authority.

According to the minutes, the proposed strength represented the minimum skeleton staff required during the operationalization phase, with the possibility of expansion according to future requirements.

The Board approved a minimum three-year contract period for employees, subject to annual review, mainly on the basis of performance.

Regularization of former Tourism Corporation employees

The issue of employees of the former Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) was also discussed during the meeting.

According to the minutes, the Board approved the formation of a Scrutiny Committee for employees of TCKP and the relevant institutions.

The Board subsequently approved the regularization of existing TCKP employees into the Authority Service.

The minutes state that these employees could be placed at the main office, regional offices or a Special Purpose Authority established under the Tourism Act, according to their competency, requirements, qualifications and skills.

This decision is significant for examining the subsequent transfer and service status of former TCKP employees within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority.

Important decision regarding Tourism Police

Tourism Police was also discussed during the first Board meeting.

According to the minutes, the operation of Tourism Police under the Tourism Act 2019 was to be governed through regulations to be approved by the Board.

The Board decided that, for that season, Tourist Police would be provided by the Police Department, while Tourism Police would subsequently be regulated through regulations approved by the Board.

Rs300 million grant approved

According to the document, following approval by the provincial Cabinet, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority was provided a Rs300 million Grant-in-Aid by the Finance Department.

The amount was released through the Accountant General on March 3, 2020, and the Board approved the proposal.

Procurement process approved

To operationalize the Authority, the Board approved the initiation of procurement for office equipment, furniture, computers and IT equipment, plant and machinery, as well as transport facilities.

The minutes clearly state that the procurement process was to be conducted under KPPRA procurement rules.

Pay structure and special allowance approved

The Board also approved an MP Pay Scale for staff to be hired from the market.

According to the minutes, market-based employees were to receive a lump-sum package along with perks and privileges in accordance with the approved notification.

The Board also approved a Special Authority Allowance for officers and officials serving on deputation and in Authority Service, on the analogy of KPPRA.

The key question is implementation

The minutes show that in March 2020, the Board took specific decisions concerning recruitment, testing agencies, procurement, financial powers, employee contracts, regularization of TCKP employees and the Tourism Police as part of the establishment and operationalization of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority.

The key question now is: To what extent were these decisions implemented in the years that followed?

In particular, it is important to establish:

  • Were all subsequent recruitments actually conducted through a competitive process?
  • Was KPPRA advice followed in the selection of testing agencies?
  • What process did the Scrutiny Committee follow before TCKP employees were regularized?
  • Were employees placed against sanctioned posts according to their qualifications, competency and experience?
  • What legal and service framework was subsequently used for promotions and appointments?
  • Do the current human-resource and service records of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority correspond with the decisions taken by the Board on March 17, 2020?

The available document records the decisions of the Board. However, reaching any final conclusion regarding an allegedly unlawful appointment, promotion or action by an individual officer would require examination of subsequent appointment records, service files, Scrutiny Committee proceedings, testing-agency records and relevant approvals.

#KPCTA #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #Tourism #TourismPolice #TCKP #KPPRA #RTI #PublicAccountability #InvestigativeJournalism #KPNews #TourismDepartmen

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