KP assembly passes bill to sack 10,000 govt employees

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday approved a bill to sack 10,000 government employees hired during the caretaker government’s tenure from Jan 22, 2023, to Feb 29, 2024.

The bill – Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Employees Removal from Service Bill 2025 – was presented by KP Law Minister Aftab Alam in today’s session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. 

Under the new law, employees hired during this period will be dismissed, and all financial benefits previously granted to them will be revoked.

The new law will pose no threat to the jobs of those recruited through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission (KPPSC), judicial orders, or specific quotas. 

Moreover, a committee will be formed under the headship of the Secretary Establishment to address any complications arising during the dismissal process.

On the occasion, Opposition MPA Ahmad Khan Kundi of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) criticized the move, accusing the PTI-led government of creating unemployment instead of providing jobs.

He argued that action should be taken against the officials responsible for these alleged illegal recruitments rather than punishing employees. 

In reply, Aftab Alam said although the caretaker government did not have the mandate to make recruitments, it hired 10,000 employees unlawfully, making it necessary for the incumbent KP government to introduce the dismissal bill. 

According to sources, the opposition had suggested a number of amendments to the bill. However, the assembly passed the bill with a majority vote without entertaining the opposition’s recommendations.

In addition, the KP assembly approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural Income Tax Bill 2025 and referred the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regulatory Bill 2025 to the select committee formed under the chair of the chief minister for further review.

The Agriculture Income Tax Bill 2025, which proposed a new taxation framework for agricultural land and income in the province, was presented in the assembly on Friday.

The bill calls for levying tax on cultivated land exceeding 50 acres and uncultivated land exceeding 100 acres. Farmers failing to pay the tax will face a penalty of 0.1% per day, which will be imposed by the tax collector.