PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi, has initiated comprehensive reforms to strengthen the police and prison systems as part of its first 100-day reform agenda.
The reform drive aims to build a professional, people-friendly and credible police force capable of enforcing the rule of law, effectively countering terrorism and ensuring the protection of citizens’ lives and property.
To enhance counterterrorism capacity, the provincial government has approved Rs 7.77 billion for the movement, weapons, equipment and modern response systems of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). In addition, Rs 6.44 billion has been allocated for the establishment of CTD units at the district level in 24 districts, along with a regional headquarters in Peshawar.
For the expansion and continuity of Safe City projects, a supplementary grant of Rs 3.825 billion has been approved, with full operationalisation in priority districts targeted by June 2026. Separately, Rs 700 million has been sanctioned for the establishment of a Central Safe City Command and Control Centre to enable province-wide surveillance and coordination.
The government has also made significant investments to strengthen the intelligence apparatus. An amount of Rs 2.5 billion has been allocated for modern intelligence equipment and surveillance technology for the Special Branch, while Rs 1.38 billion has been approved to enhance its operational mobility. Furthermore, 1,498 new posts have been sanctioned to strengthen the Special Branch across the province, and 638 field operator posts have been created under the reorganisation of the CTD detective cadre.
On the infrastructure front, Rs 3.62 billion has been approved for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Malik Saad Police Lines, while Rs 6.52 billion has been released for police infrastructure development in the merged districts under Phase-I.
Prison reforms have also been prioritised, with Rs 455 million allocated for security, surveillance and rehabilitation systems in prisons across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Of this, Rs 57.5 million has been released to improve capacity and security at Central Jail Dera Ismail Khan, while Rs 30.17 million has been issued for the improvement of district jails, along with an additional allocation of Rs 20 million.
On the legislative side, the law for the establishment of a Safe City Authority has been approved in principle. The proposed framework focuses on effective governance, lawful use of data, protection of privacy and clear guidelines for investigative support.
The provincial government said the reforms demonstrate its commitment to counter terrorism, strengthen public confidence, enhance transparency and promote sustainable peace, laying the groundwork for a safer and more stable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
