PESHAWAR
\nThe Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Shahab Ali Shah has said that all pragmatic steps have been taken to ensuring best possible transit and commercial trade routes to facilitate trade with Afghanistan.
\nHe expressed these views during a high-level consultative session held to discuss the draft Urban Policy for KP.
\nMr Shahab said that once approved by the cabinet it will be the first urban policy by any province across Pakistan.
\nThe session was organized by UK\u2019s FCDO-supported Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme in collaboration with KP Planning & Development Department\u2019s Urban Policy & Planning Unit (UPPU).
\nOn this occasion, Shahid Mahmood, Additional Secretary, Planning & Development Department informed that this policy will pave way for inclusive opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities in urban centers, leading towards social and economic uplift while ensuring environmental sustainability.
\nIt was discussed that ACS Shahab Ali Shah, Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Development Department is closely following up on the progress towards formulation and implementation of this urban policy.
\nIn line with recommendations by SNG programme, ACS has also directed that strong coordination should be maintained with other development partners who are supporting sustainable development goals at a local level in KP.
\nFurthermore, Shah Mahmood, Secretary Planning & Development Department has advised that Urban Policy will be operationalized through inclusive public investments which will be part of the Annual Development Programme.
\nDuring his technical presentation, Dr Naveed Iftikhar from SNG Programme explained that rapid urbanization at an unprecedented pace is seen in Peshawar, Hazara, and Swat regions.
\nA lack of holistic urban policy is leading to multiple challenges in service delivery and haphazard growth in cities.
\nIt is necessary to streamline and delineate the overlapping mandates of various entities in KP including Urban Development Authorities and Local Area Development Authorities. Environmental considerations in urban growth have been lacking across all cities.
\nDr Raheal Ahmed Siddiqui, Provincial Team Lead of SNG Programme explained that to address challenges of urban and city growth, this urban policy formulation exercise will identify gaps in existing urban planning laws, regulations and frameworks.
\nThe policy will offer framework for provincial urban development and also aim to strengthen the capabilities required in various departments of Government of KP for implementation of policy interventions.
\nThe consultative session provided opportunity to representatives of provincial government\u2019s line departments, local administrations, private sector, academia, development partners, civil society organizations including women and youth groups to offer inputs and comments on the draft Urban Policy which will soon be submitted to the relevant forums for approval.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR The Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Shahab Ali Shah has said that all pragmatic steps have been taken to ensuring best possible transit and commercial trade routes to facilitate trade with Afghanistan. He expressed these views during a high-level consultative session held to discuss the draft Urban Policy for KP. Mr Shahab […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-256504","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n