Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

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.

Abbottabad | ReNews Pakistan
The Galiyat Development Authority has introduced Building Control Regulations 2026, reducing the maximum permitted building height from seven to five floors in applicable environmentally sensitive and tourism focused areas as part of a broader effort to control high rise development and protect the region's mountain character.
According to GDA Director General Mohammad Fawad, the authority has amended its previous 2020 building control framework to address growing concerns over construction pressure, environmental protection and the impact of taller buildings on Galiyat's landscape and tourism identity.
The authority has clarified, however, that the five floor limit does not give every property owner an automatic right to construct a five storey building.
The actual number of floors permitted on an individual property will continue to depend on several planning and site specific factors, including zoning, residential or commercial use, whether the plot is located on the uphill or downhill side, road width, required setbacks, site conditions, environmental restrictions and approval of the individual building plan.
As a result, permissible construction may vary considerably between individual properties even within the same broader area.
The revised regulations are particularly significant for hotels, apartment buildings, commercial projects, holiday homes and mixed use developments, where the number of permitted floors can have a major impact on project feasibility and land valuation.
BCR 2026 also introduces tighter controls on conventional concrete construction. The authority is moving towards greater use of prefabricated, wooden and environmentally friendly structures in applicable areas to reduce the impact of construction activity on forests, mountain slopes and the wider natural environment.
The changes could also have implications for Galiyat's property market. Land previously valued on assumptions that taller buildings could be constructed may need to be reassessed according to the development potential permitted under the new regulations.
Investors planning hotels, apartments or commercial developments may therefore need to verify the allowable building height, covered area, land use and other planning conditions for a specific property directly with the GDA before purchasing land or finalising a development proposal.
The introduction of BCR 2026 comes alongside other environmental initiatives being pursued in Galiyat, including a wastewater treatment project in Nathia Gali and the introduction of electric sightseeing vehicles.
Together, these measures indicate a broader shift in Galiyat's development policy towards environmentally sustainable tourism and controlled construction rather than unrestricted expansion.
The new regulatory framework could reshape future real estate development across the region by requiring developers to balance commercial construction potential with environmental protection, mountain aesthetics and the limited carrying capacity of sensitive tourism destinations.