PESHAWAR: Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is ensuring best possible transit and commercial trade routes to facilitate the trade with Afghanistan.

This was said by Shahab Ali Shah, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a high-level consultative session held to discuss the draft Urban Policy for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Once approved this will be the first Urban Policy by any province across Pakistan. The session was organized by UK’s FCDO-supported Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme in collaboration with KP Planning and Development Department’s Urban Policy and Planning Unit (UPPU).

On this occasion, it was informed that this policy will pave way for inclusive opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities in urban centers, leading towards social and economic uplift while ensuring environmental sustainability.

It was discussed that Shahab Ali Shah, Additional Chief Secretary, Planning Development Department is closely following up on the progress towards formulation and implementation of this urban policy.

In line with recommendations by SNG programme, ACS has also directed that strong coordination should be maintained with other development partners who are supporting sustainable development goals at a local level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Furthermore, Shah Mahmood, Secretary Planning and Development Department has advised that Urban Policy will be operationalized through inclusive public investments which will be part of the Annual Development Programme.

During his technical presentation, Dr Naveed Iftikhar from SNG Programme explained that rapid urbanization at an unprecedented pace is seen in Peshawar, Hazara, and Swat regions.

A lack of holistic urban policy is leading to multiple challenges in service delivery and haphazard growth in cities. It is necessary to streamline and delineate the overlapping mandates of various entities in KP including Urban Development Authorities and Local Area Development Authorities.

Environmental considerations in urban growth have been lacking across all cities. Dr Raheal Ahmed Siddiqui, Provincial Team Lead of SNG Programme explained that to address challenges of urban and city growth, this urban policy formulation exercise will identify gaps in existing urban planning laws, regulations and frameworks.

The policy will offer framework for provincial urban development and also aim to strengthen the capabilities required in various departments of Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for implementation of policy interventions.

The consultative session provided opportunity to representatives of provincial government’s line departments, local administrations, private sector, academia, development partners, civil society organizations including women and youth groups to offer inputs and comments on the draft Urban Policy which will soon be submitted to the relevant forums for approval.