PDWP approves 26 development projects worth over Rs130bn for KP

DLP Report PESHAWAR The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday approved 26 development projects worth more than Rs130 billion for the province, said a handout. The fifth PDWP meeting for the financial year 2026-27 was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Islam Zeb. The meeting reviewed and approved a range of projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure, improving public services and promoting economic development across settled and merged districts. The meeting approved two separate projects under the Ehsaas-e-Bezaban Sehat Gaari (Phase-I) initiative to provide veterinary services to livestock owners at their doorsteps in settled and merged districts. The mobile veterinary initiative will provide animal health examinations and breeding services, medicines through mobile veterinary clinics, preventive vaccination, disease surveillance, deworming, veterinary extension services, as well as training and awareness for livestock farmers. The PDWP also approved the KP Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and an integrated development package for Zakhakhel area of Khyber district. An infrastructure development package for Upper Chitral was also approved, covering key roads, bridges, flood protection works and construction of check dams. Under the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor Project, the meeting approved the upgradation and installation of special museum showcases at the Peshawar Museum campus. In the agriculture sector, projects approved included modern agricultural interventions and support for women farmers to promote small businesses in the merged districts, besides the KP Resilient Agriculture Livelihoods Development Project. The meeting also approved construction of the Siran Right Bank Canal in Mansehra district and the Billion Tree Plus project in the forestry sector. In the roads sector, the PDWP approved land acquisition for Swat Expressway Phase-II and land acquisition and resettlement costs for Packages-I to VIII of the Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway. Other road projects included construction of new roads in Bara subdivision, a feasibility study, detailed engineering design and commercial-cum-financial feasibility study for the proposed 50-kilometre Dir Motorway, as well as improvement, rehabilitation and construction of various roads and bridges in Jamrud, Bara and Landi Kotal. In the sports sector, feasibility studies and establishment of a sports complex in Upper Dir, installation of a tartan track and astro turf at Curtis Ground in Haripur, and feasibility study and construction of a cricket ground in Lower Dir were approved. The health sector projects included comprehensive rehabilitation facilities for stroke and head-injury patients at the Paraplegic Centre in Hayatabad, Peshawar, including wards, an OPD, gym and private rooms. The PDWP also approved establishment of a dental college offering a BDS programme at Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, under the name Gajju Khan College of Dentistry, as well as construction of a clinical tower at Bacha Khan Medical Complex MTI Swabi. Speaking at the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Islam Zeb directed the relevant departments to ensure quality, transparency and timely implementation of all approved projects. He stressed the need for close coordination among line departments and directed officials to accelerate work on the approved schemes to ensure their timely completion and effective utilisation of public funds.