Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is considering launching an inter district BRT service on the motorway network to connect Peshawar with Mardan, Nowshera and Swat.
According to a provincial government spokesperson, the proposed service is aimed at providing a faster and more convenient public transport option for passengers travelling between Peshawar and other districts.
The Transport Department will conduct a feasibility study to assess the proposal. The study will examine possible routes, locations for BRT stations, the overall cost of the project and other operational requirements.
Transport Department officials believe operating the service through the motorway could be easier than using the GT Road.
Officials said the proposed BRT could benefit thousands of passengers who regularly travel between Peshawar and surrounding districts by providing another public transport option.
The project is currently under consideration and a final decision is expected after completion of the feasibility study.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Auditor General of Pakistan has initiated a special audit into the cancellation of Tony Pak Mining Company’s lease and its subsequent alleged transfer to another company, amid questions over whether legal, regulatory and auction requirements were followed in the process.
The audit has been launched on the directions of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to information available on the matter.
A two member audit team has been constituted and has started examining the relevant records of the provincial Minerals and Mineral Development Department.
A key focus of the audit will be the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of Tony Pak Mining Company’s lease despite the company having reportedly invested around Rs500 million in the project.
The auditors will also examine how the lease was subsequently granted or transferred to another company and whether the decisions taken during the process were in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulatory requirements.
The review is expected to determine whether a competitive auction or any other legally required procedure was followed before granting the lease to the second company.
It will also examine whether all necessary approvals, regulatory conditions and procedural requirements were fulfilled during the process.
The special audit will further assess the potential financial implications of the decisions, including whether the matter resulted in any loss to the national exchequer or reduction in government revenues.
Possible effects on employment opportunities and potential foreign exchange earnings linked to the mining project will also form part of the review.
The initiation of the audit places the lease cancellation and subsequent allocation process under formal scrutiny, but the audit itself does not establish wrongdoing. Its findings are expected to determine whether the decisions were taken in accordance with the law and whether any financial or procedural irregularities occurred.
The case is also significant from an investment perspective, as consistency in mining leases, regulatory decisions and protection of committed investment remain important factors in maintaining investor confidence in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
Further action is expected to depend on the findings of the Auditor General’s special audit.

Mansehra : ReNews Pakistan
The Mansehra district administration has directed the Kaghan Development Authority to accelerate restoration work on the Saiful Muluk Road after a section of the important tourist route was washed away by flash floods, cutting off direct access between Naran and Saiful Muluk Lake.
The road was closed to traffic after cloudburst-triggered flooding damaged part of the route last week, leaving it unsafe for public travel. The disruption affected one of the most heavily visited tourist corridors in the Kaghan Valley at a time when tourism activity in the region is at its seasonal peak.
According to an order issued by the deputy commissioner, a team of revenue officials led by the assistant commissioner on special duty inspected the affected section of the road and concluded that it was not safe for vehicular movement.
Following the inspection, the district administration instructed the Kaghan Development Authority to immediately deploy heavy machinery, begin repair and clearance work on a priority basis and make all possible efforts to reopen the route at the earliest.
Officials said the restoration of the road was essential not only for ensuring safe travel but also for reviving tourism and commercial activity around Saiful Muluk Lake, one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Pakistan.
The route was closed after flash floods caused extensive damage to the road infrastructure. Before the closure, around 200 jeeps carrying stranded tourists were safely evacuated on July 30, preventing a potentially serious emergency.
The district administration noted that thousands of visitors travel to Saiful Muluk Lake during the summer season and that prolonged closure of the road could have a significant impact on local tourism, transport services, hotels, restaurants, jeep operators and other businesses dependent on visitor activity.
Local traders and tourism stakeholders welcomed the decision to fast-track the reopening, saying that restoring access to the lake would help revive commercial activity and reduce losses suffered since the road was closed.
They also urged the authorities to ensure that repair work is carried out to adequate safety standards so that the route remains resilient against further rainfall, flooding and landslides during the ongoing monsoon season.
Saiful Muluk Road serves as the main access route from Naran to the high-altitude lake and is particularly important for local jeep operators and tourism-related businesses. Its early reopening is expected to restore visitor movement and provide relief to communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on seasonal tourism.