PESHAWAR (MNN); The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday decided to establish a special sub-committee to oversee development projects and review security operations in selected districts of the province.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar to assess the overall law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to an official statement, the meeting was attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the national security adviser, the Peshawar corps commander, and senior civil and military officials. At the outset, participants paid tribute to civilians and security personnel who lost their lives in recent terrorist attacks.
The meeting also decided that Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches scheduled for this year would be hosted in Peshawar.
It was further agreed to introduce a provincial governance model in Malakand Division under the supervision of police and other provincial institutions. The model will later be implemented in phases in the affected districts, particularly Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram.
To ensure effective monitoring of development projects and assessment of security operations in these areas, a special sub-committee will be formed under the leadership of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The committee will meet on a monthly basis.
The sub-committee will include elected public representatives, the Peshawar corps commander, the KP chief secretary, the inspector general of police, provincial officials and representatives of federal institutions.
According to the statement, the committee will also work on creating alternative employment opportunities, ensuring sustainable income for local populations and addressing issues faced by temporarily displaced persons.
The meeting emphasised the need for effective communication and complete coordination between the federal and provincial governments, as well as a unified stance on key policy matters to counter terrorism.
It was also decided to promote sustainable employment opportunities to discourage extremist tendencies among youth. The participants agreed on strict action against illegal SIM cards, explosive materials and extortion, along with phased profiling of non-custom-paid vehicles.
Last week, an apex committee meeting stressed that consultation, cooperation and coordination with the federal government and all political parties were essential for the success of a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy.
The committee discussed the recent surge in terrorist incidents in KP and reviewed an action plan to eliminate the threat posed by Fitna al Khawarij and restore peace and stability.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Annual Security Report 2025, fatalities in KP rose sharply from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025, reflecting a significant increase in violence.
Security and economic decisions finalised
In a video statement, the KP chief minister’s aide on public relations, Shafi Jan, said the meeting included a detailed briefing on the security situation and resulted in key decisions related to law and order and the economy.
KP Law Minister Aftab Alam said it was unanimously decided that in Malakand Division, the Pakistan Army would hand over security responsibilities to law enforcement agencies, including the Counter-Terrorism Department and police.
He described the decision as a major breakthrough and welcomed it as positive news for the people of KP, particularly Malakand Division, saying it reflected growing peace and renewed trust in the police.
The minister said another decision was to convene a meeting of all political stakeholders, where civilian and military leadership would take them into confidence and implement their recommendations.
He added that decisions taken in the previous provincial apex committee meeting would be ensured ahead of the federal apex committee meeting and formally endorsed.
Shafi Jan said it was also decided that local administrative services would be gradually handed over to the civil administration as law and order improved in certain districts.
On the economic front, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Finance Muzzammil Aslam said the meeting was held in a constructive environment and was briefed on the financial challenges facing the province.
He said the meeting was informed about issues earlier conveyed by CM Afridi to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through a letter in January and during a recent meeting.
Aslam said the absence of a new National Finance Commission (NFC) Award had aggravated KP’s financial problems, adding that reduced federal transfers had forced the province to fund merged districts from its own limited resources.
He said proposals were discussed to improve the situation and it was decided that these recommendations would be presented to the federal government to seek maximum financial relief for KP.
The adviser added that assurances were given to provide alternative arrangements and financial compensation to people whose livelihoods had been affected by security operations or disruption in trade with Afghanistan.
