Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has distributed more than PKR 100 million in interest-free loans among 109 beneficiaries under the Maizban Tourism Programme, aiming to promote community-based tourism and generate new livelihood opportunities across the province.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Malik Adeel Iqbal distributed the loan cheques during a ceremony held in Peshawar.
Under the programme, eligible individuals from Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Chitral and Dir are receiving interest-free financing to establish new homestays or improve existing accommodation facilities for tourists. The initiative is designed to involve local communities directly in the tourism economy while expanding lodging options in popular destinations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Iqbal said the programme would help strengthen local economies by enabling residents, particularly young people and women, to earn income from tourism-related activities.
He said the provincial government was promoting community-based tourism as a means of creating employment, increasing household incomes and supporting sustainable economic development in areas with significant tourism potential.
The special assistant added that efforts would be made to expand the Maizban Tourism Programme so that more individuals and communities could benefit from tourism-related economic opportunities in the future.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
A Rs 13 billion solarisation project aimed at providing electricity to 45,887 households in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s merged districts has faced further delays after the federal government raised serious technical, financial and administrative objections to its PC-I and directed the provincial government to revise the project documents.
According to official records, the PC-I submitted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government contained several shortcomings, preventing the project from moving forward for approval. The federal government had provided Rs 13 billion to the provincial government in 2024, yet solar systems have still not been distributed to eligible families.
The project is intended to provide affordable, environmentally friendly and sustainable electricity to thousands of households in the merged districts, particularly in areas where power supply remains limited or unreliable.
The matter was reviewed at a pre-Central Development Working Party meeting held on July 7, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Member Energy. The meeting examined progress on the Accelerated Implementation Plan and the proposed solar project.
Participants were informed that weak planning and incomplete documentation had prevented the project from meeting the required approval standards.
Earlier, at a meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Planning on December 31, 2025, officials were directed to implement the scheme on a grant basis rather than through loans. The meeting also called for the appointment of qualified and experienced vendors and the use of Benazir Income Support Programme data to ensure the transparent identification of eligible households.
However, after reviewing the PC-I, the Energy Wing of the Planning Commission identified several deficiencies related to technical design, cost estimates, beneficiary selection, procurement procedures and project implementation.
Federal authorities have now directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to address all objections and prepare a revised PC-I before submitting the project again for approval.
The continued delay has raised concerns among thousands of families in the merged districts who have long struggled with inadequate electricity access and were expecting immediate relief through the solar scheme.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Private Partnership Committee has approved the construction of the 29 kilometre Dir Motorway, a major road infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity between Chakdara and Lower Dir.
The proposed motorway will connect Chakdara Interchange with Baroon in Lower Dir district and is estimated to cost approximately Rs 69 billion.
The project was approved during a meeting of the PPP Committee chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Following the approval, the committee directed the relevant departments to begin the land acquisition process without delay.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the provincial government has also instructed the concerned authorities to prepare clear and time-bound implementation schedules to ensure that construction is completed on schedule and the motorway is opened to traffic as early as possible.
The chief minister further directed officials to propose amendments to the existing Public-Private Partnership framework to accelerate the execution of development schemes and reduce procedural and implementation delays.
Afridi described the Dir Motorway as an important development initiative for the people of Malakand division. He said the project would significantly reduce travel time, fuel consumption and transportation expenses for residents and businesses operating in the region.
The motorway is also expected to improve the movement of goods and passengers, strengthen commercial activity and provide better access to markets, educational institutions and healthcare facilities.
According to the provincial government, improved road connectivity will also help promote tourism across Malakand division by making remote and scenic destinations more accessible to domestic and international visitors.
The project is expected to generate new employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases, while also supporting local businesses and the broader socioeconomic development of Lower Dir and adjoining districts.
During the meeting, the PPP Committee also reviewed progress on two other major road projects, including the Peshawar/Dera Ismail Khan Motorway and Swat Motorway Phase II.
Officials were directed to address outstanding issues and take all necessary measures to ensure the timely completion of these projects.