Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi chaired a comprehensive review meeting on Kohat Division to assess progress on the Annual Development Programme (ADP), law and order, governance, public service delivery, and development priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.
Divisional Performance Review Meetings Commence
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister announced the formal commencement of divisional performance review meetings following the approval of the provincial budget. He said the initiative is aimed at ensuring effective implementation of the government’s priorities, timely completion of development projects, and measurable improvements in public service delivery across the province.
“The true measure of governance is not the quality of presentations but the confidence and satisfaction of our citizens,” the Chief Minister remarked, directing all departments to make public trust and tangible service delivery outcomes their foremost priority.
Security and Development Priorities
Highlighting the government’s strategic priorities, Sohail Afridi said the prevailing security challenges in southern districts require sustained attention and a coordinated institutional response. He expressed confidence that the new fiscal year would mark significant progress towards peace, stability and prosperity across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He noted that the provincial budget allocates enhanced resources to the police, health and education sectors in line with government priorities, adding that proposals to further strengthen police deployment in southern districts are also under consideration.
Citizen-Centric Governance
The Chief Minister instructed administrative officers to maintain regular engagement with citizens, discourage bureaucratic practices that create barriers to public access, and transform government offices into responsive centres of public service. He further directed that development schemes nearing completion should be operationalized on priority to maximize public benefit.
Emphasizing the need to address long-standing challenges in southern districts, the Chief Minister called for immediate progress on practical and sustainable solutions to ensure the provision of safe drinking water.
Zero Tolerance for Sexual Violence and Narcotics
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy against sexual violence, Sohail Afridi directed the authorities to ensure that perpetrators of rape are prosecuted without exception and brought to justice. He also ordered an intensified crackdown against narcotics networks, describing drug abuse as a serious social menace, and instructed the relevant departments to implement comprehensive rehabilitation measures for drug-dependent individuals to facilitate their reintegration into society.
Merit, Transparency and Accountability
The Chief Minister reiterated that senior leadership positions in government departments had been assigned strictly on merit and directed all administrative heads to uphold merit, transparency and accountability within their respective institutions. He also instructed district administrations to ensure the regular participation of elected public representatives in open public forums and citizen engagement initiatives to strengthen coordination in addressing local issues.
Health Sector and Staff Absenteeism
Reviewing the health sector, the Chief Minister directed the authorities to accelerate implementation of the District Headquarters Hospitals Revamping Programme. Taking serious notice of staff absenteeism at a Hospital in Hangu, he ordered immediate action against those responsible, stating that negligence in institutions directly linked to public health and human life would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Salt and Gypsum City Project
Expressing concern and displeasure over delays in the Salt and Gypsum City Project in Karak, the Chief Minister instructed the relevant authorities to demonstrate visible progress within the next three months. He observed that the project carries significant strategic importance for the province, with substantial potential to enhance provincial revenues while generating employment opportunities for local communities. He also sought a comprehensive list of all major pending public sector projects across the province and directed that schemes with the greatest public impact be completed on a priority basis.
Commitment to New Fiscal Year Objectives
The Chief Minister directed all departments to pursue the new fiscal year’s objectives with professionalism, integrity and commitment by ensuring timely completion of development projects, improved governance, maintenance of law and order, adherence to merit, institutional transparency, and citizen-centric service delivery.
