Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Abbottabad : ReNews Pakistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has inaugurated the newly developed Shimla Hill Park in Abbottabad, marking a major addition to the city’s recreational and public spaces.
Spread over 702 kanals, the state of the art park has been developed as a major recreational facility for residents and visitors. During the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Afridi described the project as a gift from the government led by former prime minister Imran Khan to the people of Abbottabad.
Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister thanked the people of Abbottabad for their continued support for the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) in elections and highlighted the provincial government’s broader development agenda for the Hazara region.
Afridi said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated Rs 200 billion under the Khushal Hazara Programme to accelerate development across the division. Of the total allocation, Rs 150 billion has been earmarked for development projects, while another Rs 50 billion will be spent on promoting tourism across Hazara.
The chief minister said the initiative is aimed at improving infrastructure, supporting economic activity and strengthening the tourism potential of the region. Hazara, known for its mountainous landscape and tourism destinations, remains an important part of the province’s efforts to expand tourism-related development.
Rs 1.4 Billion Allocated for Urban Flooding and Hospital Development
The provincial government has also allocated Rs 1.4 billion to address Abbottabad’s urban flooding problem, according to the chief minister. The funding is expected to support measures aimed at improving the city’s drainage and flood-management infrastructure and reducing the impact of heavy rainfall on urban areas.
Afridi further announced that sufficient funds have been allocated for the District Headquarters Hospital Abbottabad under the provincial government’s flagship development programme.
He said the hospital project would be completed on a priority basis, emphasizing that local residents had been waiting for its completion. The government’s focus on the health facility is intended to improve access to healthcare services for Abbottabad and surrounding areas.
The inauguration of Shimla Hill Park, along with the announced investments in infrastructure, tourism and healthcare, represents a broader development push in Abbottabad and the Hazara division. The projects are expected to improve public amenities while contributing to the region’s urban development and tourism potential.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has directed officials to speed up development work in the tourism, culture, archaeology and museums sectors.
According to officials, 58 projects have been included in the department’s Annual Development Program (ADP), including 26 new schemes. Eleven projects are being implemented under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, while two are being funded through foreign sources.
The meeting was also informed that seven projects are nearing completion. Special Assistant to the KP Chief Minister on Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums Malik Adeel Iqbal directed officials to accelerate ongoing projects and improve construction and implementation standards.
Officials were also instructed to complete Tourism Facilitation Centers before the next tourist season. The centers will provide visitors with information, guidance and other tourism related services at one location.
The government also directed authorities to start work on the proposed chairlift project in Galiyat and improve facilities at major tourist destinations across the province.
Malik Adeel Iqbal said the development of Galiyat and other tourist areas would make them more attractive to visitors while creating new employment and business opportunities for local communities.

Peshawar : ReNews Pakistan
Peshawar is set to receive a new underpass as part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s ongoing efforts to improve the city’s road infrastructure and address growing traffic and connectivity challenges.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi performed the groundbreaking of the Jameel Chowk Underpass, a project being executed under the Peshawar Revitalization Plan. The underpass has been assigned a completion period of 90 days, with the provincial government aiming to complete the scheme within, or even before, the stipulated deadline.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Chief Minister Afridi said the government was determined to accelerate development activities in Peshawar and ensure that infrastructure projects were completed within their prescribed timelines. He directed the relevant authorities to maintain the pace of construction so that residents could benefit from improved infrastructure at the earliest possible stage.
The chief minister said several projects initiated under the Peshawar Revitalization Plan were progressing rapidly, while a number of development schemes had already been completed or were approaching completion.
According to Afridi, development projects with a combined estimated value of around Rs. 200 billion are currently underway in Peshawar under the revitalization programme. The projects are aimed at improving urban infrastructure and supporting the city’s broader development needs.
He appreciated Provincial Minister for Local Government Mina Khan and officials of the Local Government Department for monitoring development schemes and following up on their implementation. He stressed the importance of effective oversight to ensure that projects were completed according to their approved timelines and specifications.
The chief minister also described the current year as a year of development, construction and prosperity for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the provincial government was focusing on accelerating public-sector development and improving infrastructure across the province.
During his remarks, Afridi also highlighted the provincial government’s revenue performance. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had surpassed its Rs. 129 billion revenue target for the 2025-26 financial year, collecting more than Rs. 150 billion.
For the current financial year, the provincial government has set a revenue collection target of Rs. 180 billion, while it aims to increase provincial revenues to Rs. 200 billion in the longer term.
The Jameel Chowk Underpass is expected to become another significant component of Peshawar’s ongoing infrastructure development, with its timely completion likely to contribute to smoother traffic movement and improved urban connectivity in the area.