KP CM chairs meeting on development plan, prioritises backward districts

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday chaired a meeting of the provincial Planning and Development Department via video link to review progress and preparations for the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP).

During the meeting, the chief minister directed officials to complete the Planning Commission (PC) documents for all schemes proposed in the Annual Development Programme 2026–27 by 1 June.

Speaking on the occasion, Afridi said the new development programme would serve as a comprehensive roadmap for the province’s all-round development, emphasising that backward districts would remain the top priority. He added that the government would focus on generating employment opportunities, improving education and healthcare, and ensuring the provision of basic facilities in new development projects.

Officials briefed the meeting on the funds released and expenditure incurred under the Annual Development Programme 2025–26. According to the briefing, 67 per cent of the funds released so far have already been utilised.

The meeting was informed that the federal government has not yet released funds for the Accelerated Development Programme for the merged districts during the current financial year. Despite this, the provincial government has allocated Rs29.6 billion for development schemes under the programme.

Officials revealed that 218 high-priority projects are expected to be completed in the next financial year. Under the development programme for 2026–27, around 80 per cent of funds have been earmarked for ongoing projects, while the remaining 20 per cent will be allocated to new initiatives.

The next development programme also proposes a Roshan Qabasi package worth Rs1,000 billion for the merged districts, along with several major initiatives aimed at improving public services and infrastructure.

Key proposed projects include the establishment of a Health City, the Ehsaas Jungle Programme, and a Tribal Medical College. Other initiatives include the introduction of virtual classrooms, bag-free schools, and an artificial intelligence curriculum in educational institutions.

The briefing also highlighted plans for establishing a Tribal University and launching an Integrated Development Package for Upper Chitral.

Additional proposals include the expansion of the shelter network, establishment of the Zamong Core Network, and the development of schools for special children. The programme also envisages a self-employment scheme for low-income citizens, the launch of the Khyber Safari Train, and the divisional expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Moreover, authorities plan to complete Safe City projects and establish a Cyber Security Operations Centre as part of the next Annual Development Programme.