Peshawar Division

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a series of measures aimed at regulating unregistered and illegal housing schemes, streamlining building approvals and curbing unauthorised construction across the province.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi approved the proposed amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Housing Schemes Regulations 2024 during a meeting of the council of the Land Use and Building Control Authority (LUBCA).
The chief minister directed authorities to expedite the process of determining the legal status of unapproved and illegal housing schemes and ordered that a specific cut-off date be fixed for unregistered schemes to submit their applications for registration.
Under the proposed mechanism, housing schemes that fail to submit their applications within the prescribed period or do not fulfil the required legal conditions will face action under the law.
The chief minister said bringing unregistered housing schemes into the legal framework was a key objective of expanding the housing regulations.
The meeting also focused on improving the system for approving building plans. Afridi directed LUBCA to develop a centralised mechanism for approval of building plans for development authorities across the province, with the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) excluded from the proposed arrangement.
Officials have been asked to prepare a final roadmap within two weeks regarding either the integration of development authorities or the establishment of a centralised approval system.
The chief minister said an integrated and effective mechanism was necessary to improve the performance of development authorities and promote transparency in the approval process.
The meeting also considered a proposal to create 21 new posts to strengthen LUBCA's operational capacity.
Officials briefed the council on the proposed enlistment and renewal fee structure for housing schemes, as well as the introduction of a uniform debris fee. The council gave in-principle approval to the proposed fee structure and debris charges.
A proposal to exempt residential building plans covering up to five marlas from the debris fee was also discussed. The chief minister directed that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration.
The existing revenue-sharing arrangement between LUBCA and Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) will remain unchanged. Under the current formula, LUBCA receives 25 percent of the revenue, while the remaining 75 percent goes to the TMAs.
The council also approved LUBCA's revised budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 and its estimated budget for 2026-27. A Finance Committee was also constituted to provide recommendations on matters involving financial implications.
Afridi directed authorities to simultaneously focus on preventing illegal construction, promoting sustainable development and strengthening TMAs. He stressed the need for effective enforcement of relevant laws and stronger measures to achieve the intended objectives.
The measures are expected to affect the regulatory process for housing schemes across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly those operating without registration or approval. However, the government's move represents a process for bringing eligible schemes into the legal framework; it does not mean that all existing unregistered or illegal schemes have automatically been regularised.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Population Welfare Department has reviewed progress on its digitalization and monitoring framework as part of efforts to modernize administrative operations, improve field supervision and enhance the delivery of public services across the province.
A high level meeting on the department’s digital systems was held in Peshawar under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (SACM) for Population Welfare Tufail Anjum. Senior officials, including the Secretary Population Welfare, Director General, Director PME, Demographer and representatives from the Research and IT teams, participated in the meeting.
During the session, the Research and IT Team presented a detailed briefing on ongoing digital transformation initiatives within the department. Officials were informed that nearly 90 percent of departmental activities and office-related processes had already been shifted to digital platforms.
The meeting reviewed existing digital systems being used across different sections of the department and discussed measures to further integrate technology into administrative and field operations.
A major focus of the discussion was the development of an effective monitoring mechanism for field activities, particularly the attendance and performance of staff working at Service Delivery Points (SDPs). Officials highlighted the need for a transparent and reliable system that could provide real-time information regarding field operations.
Speaking at the meeting, SACM Tufail Anjum emphasized that digitalization must be strengthened and expanded in line with modern administrative requirements. He said technology based monitoring systems were essential for improving accountability, transparency and efficiency.
He directed officials to explore the development of a mobile-based attendance and field monitoring application or the adoption of an already available suitable system. Under the proposed mechanism, field staff would be able to record attendance through mobile devices while carrying out their duties.
According to officials, the digital monitoring framework would allow senior officers to receive timely updates about staff presence, field activities and service delivery performance, enabling better supervision and decision-making.
The initiative also carries wider implications for urban planning and public infrastructure management, as accurate population data and improved monitoring systems can help government departments design more effective development strategies, including housing, community facilities and regional planning projects.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on creating a practical, transparent and technology-driven monitoring system that could improve operational efficiency and strengthen public service delivery throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Development Working Party has approved 14 development projects covering road infrastructure, forestry, sports, urban policy and land record management across the province, with a major share of the new schemes focused on improving regional connectivity.
The approvals were granted during the seventh PDWP meeting for fiscal year 2026 27, chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Department Islam Zeb.
A significant portion of the approved portfolio relates to the construction, widening, rehabilitation and feasibility assessment of roads in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In Upper Chitral, approval was granted for construction of the 45 kilometre Shughar Shah Salim Road, a project aimed at improving road access and connectivity in the mountainous district.
The PDWP also approved widening, improvement and blacktopping of the 20 kilometre Battai Khalil Top Road in Buner.
In Khyber district, two road schemes were approved, including construction of the 11 kilometre Shangar Markaz Dars Masjid Road through Sandipal and the 8 kilometre Ahmadi Donga Road in Bara tehsil.
Abbottabad will receive another connectivity project involving the feasibility study, design and construction of a road linking the Makhniyal Islamabad boundary with Changla Gali through Dukhan Palsar.
A feasibility study for the proposed Umarzai Bypass Road in Charsadda was also approved as part of the wider road development programme.
The forum also approved a special development package worth more than Rs9 billion for Torghar district under Phase II, providing additional funding for development interventions in one of the province’s less developed districts.
Beyond road infrastructure, the approved portfolio includes the Billion Tree Afforestation Support Project, extending development spending into forestry and environmental restoration.
Sports infrastructure also received approval through establishment of a sports stadium in Upper Chitral, organisation of sports competitions in the merged districts and construction, upgrading and rehabilitation of sports grounds and existing facilities.
The PDWP further approved establishment of an Urban Policy Unit, which is expected to support planning and policy formulation for growing urban areas across the province.
Another approved initiative is the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Resource for Inclusive Development Multi Phase Programmatic Approach, aimed at strengthening development planning and the use of public resources.
In the revenue and land management sector, the forum approved centralisation of the Land Record Management Information System.
The move is expected to strengthen provincial land record administration by bringing land information under a more integrated digital management system.
The latest approvals expand the provincial development portfolio across transport, environment, sports, urban planning and land administration, with road connectivity remaining the dominant infrastructure priority in the new set of projects.