Efforts underway to finalize Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's first Urban Policy: Session told.

PESHAWAR -- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Shahab Ali Shah has said the provincial government was ensuring best possible transit and commercial trade routes to facilitate trade with Afghanistan.

He stated this in a high-level consultative session 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) to discuss the draft Urban Policy for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Once approved, this will be the first urban policy by any province across Pakistan.

On this occasion, Additional Secretary, Planning and Development Department Shahid Mahmood informed that this policy would pave way for inclusive opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities in urban centers, leading towards social and economic uplift while ensuring environmental sustainability.

The participants were told that Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah was closely following up on the progress towards formulation and implementation of this urban policy.

In line with recommendations by SNG program, the 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, Secretary Planning and Development Department Shah Mahmood advised that Urban Policy will be operationalized through inclusive public investments which will be part of the Annual Development Program.

During his technical presentation, Dr. Naveed Iftikhar from SNG Program explained that rapid...