Peshawar
Today, the Oxford Policy Management’s Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme hosted a symposium in Peshawar focusing on sustainable urban development through land-use reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The event, titled “Promoting Sustainable Urban Development: Lessons Learned from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Land-Use Reforms,” gathered a distinguished group of policymakers, local government officials, urban planning experts, and civil society representatives to discuss the transformative role of KP’s Land Use & Building Control (LU&BC) Act in guiding structured urban growth.
The symposium highlighted the KP LU&BC Act as a pioneering legislative achievement in Pakistan, aimed at preventing illegal construction, preserving agricultural lands, and fostering organised urban expansion. KP was the first province to enact this legislation, which addresses critical land-use challenges by setting clear guidelines for residential, agricultural, and industrial land use.
Dr. Raheal A. Siddiqui, Program Team Leader for SNG, opened the event by emphasising the role of the KP government’s LU&BC Act in curtailing haphazard urban growth and prioritising sustainability. This landmark legislation, developed with technical support from the FCDO funded SNG Programme, is an important step toward establishing a well-defined legal framework for urban planning across KP.
Mr. Arshad Ayub Khan, Hon’ble Minister for Local Government, Elections, and Rural Development (LGERDD), delivered a keynote address, applauding the proactive steps taken by the KP government to address urbanisation challenges. “The KP LU&BC Act reflects our commitment to creating sustainable urban spaces that balance development with environmental conservation,” he noted. He also thanked FCDO and SNG Programme for providing active support to the Land-Use reforms of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On this occasion, Nadir Rana, Special Secretary (Establishment), LGERDD emphasised that Government of KP has pioneered various interconnect components of Land-Reforms regime, in shape of KP Urban Policy, LU&BC Act and the KP Housing Policy.
Panel discussions followed, featuring experts including Muhammad Zubair Asghar Qureshi, Director General, Provincial Services Academy; Hifzur Rehman, Member KP Land Use Council; Dr. Shaker Mehmood, UET Lahore, Dr. a
Abdul Majid, University of Haripur, Ms Aimen Iftikhar, District Architect, TMA Swabi. Moderated by Dr. Raheal Siddiqui, the panel explored the operational successes of district-level Land Use Planning Committees and the role of local enforcement units.
The symposium also served as a platform for showcasing the early achievements of KP’s LU&BC implementation. Supported by SNG’s technical assistance, district administrations have taken proactive roles in land use, with regular committee meetings, compliance inspections, and structured reporting.
“The adoption and implementation of the LU&BC Act across districts mark a significant milestone for KP’s local governments, fostering urban planning practices that protect resources and benefit communities,” said Dr. Vaqar Ahmed, Senior Governance Advisor, SNG.
As KP looks to expand and replicate these best practices province-wide, the symposium offered a unique opportunity for stakeholders to exchange insights, address challenges, and strengthen collaborations for future land-use reforms. The SNG Programme remains committed to supporting KP’s journey towards sustainable urban development and empowering local governments to drive meaningful change in land use planning and building control. The seminar was also attended by the students of University of Haripur and Institute of Management Sciences (IMSciences) Peshawar. The students actively participated and asked pertinent questions from the panelists on Land Use Reforms.
