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PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced that it is withdrawing amendments made to the Assembly Members’ Privileges Act, including proposed new benefits such as the provision of blue passports for members of the provincial assembly and their families.

According to the proposed amendments introduced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, changes were made to the law regarding salaries and benefits, including a request to grant blue passports to assembly members and their family members. However, the amendments faced strong criticism on social media, after which Chief Minister Sohail Afridi directed that the changes be withdrawn.

In a video message issued alongside other members of the provincial cabinet, Information Minister Shafi Jan said that a meeting of the provincial cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He added that Speaker of the Provincial Assembly Babar Saleem Swati also attended the meeting via video link.

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Shafi Jan said that, on the instructions of the Chief Minister and after consultation with the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, it had been decided to withdraw all objectionable clauses of the Assembly Members’ Privileges Act.

He further said that all objectionable provisions would be restored and corrected in accordance with the 1988 Act. He also announced that a meeting would be held on Monday in which all parliamentary leaders would be taken into confidence.

The Information Minister said that the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which he described as a “Form 45 government,” was established on the basis of the people’s genuine mandate. Therefore, he said, the government would not make any decision that goes against public aspirations. Shafi Jan also said that the government would listen to all concerns raised by the journalist community and the public.

ISLAMABAD: Climate change has become a major threat to the future of children, according to the United Nations. A recent UN report states that around 34 million children in Pakistan are living in areas where extreme heat, heatwaves, drought, and flash floods have become constant threats to their lives and health.

Whether it is intense heat, prolonged heatwaves, or sudden flash floods, experts say children are the first and most severely affected by the impacts of climate change.

Child specialist Dr. Abdul Jabbar Bhutto described the situation as alarming, saying that nearly 35 million children are at risk. He said the threat is not only to their lives, but even those who survive face countless long-term health risks.

According to experts, children living near rivers, streams, and glaciers in the northern areas are highly vulnerable to flash floods. Meanwhile, children residing in the plains and desert regions are increasingly facing the dangers of extreme temperatures and heatwaves.

Officials have urged parents to pay special attention over the coming weeks to protecting their children from extreme heat, preventing dehydration, and following necessary safety precautions.

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Deputy Director at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Rabia Javed, explained that climate change can trigger sudden cloudbursts, causing large volumes of water to rush downhill. She added that rising temperatures can also accelerate glacier melting, leading to sudden surges of water in the form of flash floods. In both situations, children living with their families are at risk of being caught in these floods.

UNICEF has also warned that the growing risks associated with climate change could affect approximately 296 million children across the region, including millions of children in Pakistan, Nigeria, and India.

The Government of Punjab has implemented a new tax deduction system for digital payments across the province to ensure greater transparency in tax collection.

According to the Punjab Revenue Authority, tax deducted through e-payments or card transactions will be transferred directly to the government treasury.

Under the new system, services provided by beauty parlours, salons, and fashion designers will be subject to a tax rate of 5 percent.

According to the official statement, cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, skin treatment, and laser treatment centres will also be taxed at 5 percent. Meanwhile, event management services, tour operators, gymnasiums, and laundry services will be subject to an 8 percent tax.

For the hotel and restaurant sector, cash payments will be subject to a 16 percent tax deduction, while digital payments will be taxed at 8 percent. This means hotels and restaurants will pay 50 percent less tax on payments made through credit cards and other digital payment methods.

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