Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Malakand : [Mansoor Ahmad District Coordinator ReNews Pakistan]
The real estate market in Malakand District is maintaining a strong trajectory toward commercial expansion, heavily fueled by regional infrastructure upgrades like the Swat Motorway. While this enhanced connectivity continues to drive up property valuations, a simultaneous administrative crackdown on illegal constructions has made legally verified titles an absolute necessity for market buyers.
In recent commercial updates, investor interest is expanding beyond core municipal centers into hubs like Palai and Batkhela, with high demand for commercial plazas and plots. Highlighting this shift, premium versatile properties such as a large double story building located near Tota Kan Road, highly suitable for setups like schools, hostels, or private hospitals have entered the rental and sales market. Meanwhile, residential demand in Thana and Dargai remains focused on independent houses, with pricing heavily dependent on utility access.
On the regulatory front, the Commissioner of the Malakand Division has spearheaded a massive anti-encroachment drive across the region. The operation has successfully reclaimed hundreds of kanals of state and illegally occupied land, resulting in the immediate demolition of unauthorized structures and the sealing of non-compliant commercial buildings.
Given these aggressive state enforcements, local real estate experts strongly advise prospective buyers and long-term investors to perform rigorous due diligence and thoroughly verify official land deeds before finalizing any property transactions.

Malakand : [ Mansoor Ahmad District Coordinator ReNews Pakistan]
In line with the special directives of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to promote regional tourism, the Deputy Commissioner of Malakand, Mohammad Fayaz Khan Sherpao, conducted an official site visit to the under-construction 'Tourist Sitting & Viewpoint' located near the strategic Malakand Tunnel.
During the site inspection, the Deputy Commissioner thoroughly evaluated the pace, quality, and structural standards of the ongoing construction work.
Emphasizing the importance of the project in attracting visitors to the division, DC Malakand issued strict instructions to the executing authorities and relevant line departments to ensure the project's timely completion without compromising on material quality. He noted that the viewpoint aims to provide state-of-the-art facilities and a secure seating area for families and tourists traveling through the region.

Dera Ismail Khan | ReNews Pakistan
Dera Ismail Khan International Airport is moving closer to reopening after remaining closed for nearly a decade, as rehabilitation and repair work at the facility enters its final stages.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi visited the airport on Friday to review progress on efforts aimed at restoring flight operations. The airport has been closed since 2015, affecting air connectivity for Dera Ismail Khan and surrounding areas.
During the visit, officials from the Pakistan Airports Authority briefed the governor on the status of rehabilitation work, operational preparedness and remaining requirements before commercial flights can resume. The briefing covered repair activity, runway condition, technical arrangements and other measures needed to make the airport functional again.
Speaking to reporters, Governor Kundi said runway carpeting had been completed and the remaining work would also be finalized soon. He said the airport could be made ready for operations once essential requirements, including equipment, staffing, safety assessments and audits, are completed.
The governor stressed that any shortage of machinery, technical equipment or staff should be addressed on priority so that flight operations can be restored in a safe and organized manner. He said all mandatory safety checks would have to be completed before commercial flights are allowed to resume.
Kundi expressed hope that commercial operations at Dera Ismail Khan International Airport would be restored soon. He said discussions would be held with South Air regarding potential flights to Dera Ismail Khan and Chitral, adding that other private airlines would also be encouraged to expand air services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the restoration of flight operations would improve regional connectivity, support business activity and provide better travel facilities to residents of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The reopening of the airport is also expected to benefit nearby districts that depend on Dera Ismail Khan as an important administrative and commercial centre.
The governor also shared details of the proposed Green Field International Airport project, which is planned to be developed on more than 1,700 acres. He said the proposed facility would have the capacity to handle more than one million passengers annually.
According to Kundi, a site near Yarik in Dera Ismail Khan remains the preferred location for the new airport. He described the location as the most suitable option for the wider region due to its accessibility and future development potential.
Separately, the governor announced that work on the dualization of the N 55 Dera Paroa Road would begin soon. He said the tendering process for the road project had already been completed, and construction activity would start in the near future.
Officials believe the rehabilitation of the existing airport, along with the proposed new airport and road development plans, could significantly improve transport infrastructure in Dera Ismail Khan and strengthen the region’s long term connectivity.