KP Assembly passes Hindu Marriage Bill, backs tax relief

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has approved the Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2026, while lawmakers from both the government and opposition called for the continuation of tax exemptions for Malakand and the newly merged tribal districts.

The bill was presented in the provincial assembly by Local Government Minister Mina Khan Afridi and was passed by the House.

Under the amended law, the authority to appoint Hindu marriage registrars will now rest with district governments.

In areas with Hindu populations, union councils will issue licenses to approved registrars for the registration of Hindu marriages.

The assembly also discussed measures aimed at improving the welfare of mine workers in the province.

The provincial government has prepared the Excise Duty on Minerals (Amendment) Bill 2026, which proposes changes to the Mines Labour Welfare Board.

The proposed board will include representatives from several departments, including Finance, Health, Labour, Education, Zakat, Social Welfare and Communication & Works.

The Minerals Secretary will serve as chairman, while the Chief Commissioner of Mines Labour Welfare will act as vice chairman. Representatives of mine owners and workers will also be included.

During the session, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle opposed the possible imposition of taxes on residents of Malakand and the merged districts.

Members demanded that the region should continue receiving tax exemptions due to its economic and social challenges.

Assembly Speaker Babar Salim Swati said the matter would be discussed in the House and suggested a meeting of government and opposition leaders to decide the future course of action.

Several lawmakers expressed concerns over the withdrawal of previous tax relief measures for Malakand and former tribal areas.

Provincial Minister Dr Amjad said taxes were not imposed in Malakand during the previous PTI government. He criticised opposition members for what he described as an inaccurate portrayal of the issue.

He said only a hotel tax had been applied to a property owned by a person from outside Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while the matter was linked to federal decisions.