DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday inaugurated construction of the Kabootar Chowk Underpass on Ring Road, a Rs 1.989 billion project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Peshawar.
The 60-day project is part of the provincial government’s flagship “Revitalisation of Peshawar Programme”, a Rs 200 billion urban development initiative described as the largest in the city’s history.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Afridi said the underpass would improve traffic flow, cut travel time, reduce fuel consumption, and provide safer commuting facilities. He said the programme was focused on restoring Peshawar’s status as a modern, integrated and sustainable urban centre with quality infrastructure and expanded economic opportunities.
Officials briefed that more than Rs 95 billion worth of projects under the programme are already under implementation, while tenders have been issued for additional schemes worth Rs 29 billion.
The chief minister linked the development drive to the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan, saying the provincial government had entered a new phase of public welfare, infrastructure modernisation, youth empowerment and inclusive growth. He added that the Rs 200 billion programme would reshape Peshawar’s urban landscape to meet the needs of its growing population.
Afridi also raised provincial grievances on security and finance. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had sacrificed over 80,000 lives in the fight against terrorism and was still bearing a disproportionate burden. He expressed concern over policy decisions affecting the merged districts and said the province was not receiving its due share of resources, with financial integration of the merged districts remaining incomplete. He claimed substantial liabilities owed by the federal government to KP remained unresolved.
He cited delays in key projects, including the completed but non-operational Peshawar Bus Terminal due to connectivity issues, and a dam project in Swat held up by the federal government’s non-issuance of NOCs to foreign technical experts.
On politics, Afridi condemned what he called the continued victimisation of PTI leaders and workers. He said consultation with Imran Khan was essential for the upcoming provincial budget, which would prioritise social protection, poverty alleviation and inclusive development. He warned that if permission for a meeting with Khan was not granted by June 9, a sit-in would be held outside the National Assembly on June 10, calling it a legitimate constitutional right.
